Chattergoon anchors Guyana innings in Busta final

Guyana were only partially in the driver's seat at the end of the second day of the Busta International Shield final, but if it had not been for Sewnarine Chattergoon, Jamaica may have had their hands firmly on the steering wheel.

Chattergoon's teammate Reon King, earlier in the day, had cleaned up the Jamaican tail, turning in a much-improved performance from the previous day. He returned figures of 4-61, but the real star of Guyana's bowling was Mahendra Nagamootoo. The leg-spinner picked up one more wicket to equal the record of 48 in a regional season.

The hosts lost three wickets within the first half-hour of play, even though Gareth Breese and Ryan Cunningham looked fairly comfortable at the crease. Breese made 12 off 61 balls before being castled by a King special. Cunningham remained unbeaten on 26 off 48 balls, unable to elicit any support from the Jamaican tail.

Bowled out for 277, Jamaica faced further obstacles as the Guyanese openers put on 66 for the first wicket. But Chattergoon was dropped twice - on one by wicket-keeper Keith Hibbert, and on six by skipper Robert Samuels at first slip.

Azeemul Haniff was the one to depart first, caught at mid-on in trying to hit off-spinner Breese over the top. Chattergoon himself survived two more chances in the 40s, the second coming just after Lennox Cush was caught at silly mid-off by Leon Garrick.

In the post-tea session, Jamaica's spinners restricted the flow of runs, testing the patience of Chattergoon and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. The latter made 10 off 42 balls before he was trapped in front by Breese, not offering a shot to the ball.

Barely four overs before stumps, Chattergoon desisted from playing a shot to a ball from Cunningham that spun viciously and knocked back his off-stump. Chattergoon made 66 off 254 balls, hitting five fours in his innings.

Ramnaresh Sarwan (24*) and night-watchman Azib Ally-Haniff (4*) saw Guyana through to the close of play without any further mishap. The visitors were on 149 for four, the runs coming off 77 overs. For Jamaica, Breese and Cunningham picked up two wickets each.