PHILIPSBURG, St Maarten (CMC):
Middle-order batsman Travis Dowlin became the second centurion as Guyana capitalised on five dropped catches by the Leeward Islands, to amass 547 for eight declared in their first innings on the second day of their four-day Carib Beer Cricket Series match at the Carib Lumber Ballpark yesterday.
At the close, the Leewards, with a target of 397 confronting them in order to avoid the follow-on, were 41 for one.
Dowlin, who profited from three of the chances at 5, 14 and 31, cracked an unbeaten 123, but opener Krishna Arjune, who resumed his innings after he was forced to retire hurt on Friday, top scored with 157.
Arjune, who was also dropped twice after he resumed on 116, and Dowlin added 71 for the fifth wicket after Guyana had resumed at their overnight score of 267 for three.
The 25-year-old Arjune, who was dropped on 129 and on his eventual total, was dismissed in bizarre circumstances when his forceful drive rebounded off the forward short-leg fielder Shane Jeffers and hit his stumps, with the player short of his ground, in the last over before lunch bowled by off-spinner Omari Banks.
Jeffers had floored a catch there two balls earlier.
Arjune batted for 386 minutes, 291 balls and struck 20 fours and two sixes.
He returned to crease after captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who had resumed at his overnight score of 52, was dismissed for 67 which came from 164 balls and contained seven fours.
Chanderpaul, in association with Arjune before he retired, and then Dowlin, had added 133 for the fourth wicket.
Guyana went to lunch at 365 for five after scoring 99 runs in an extended session which started 30 minutes early to make up for the overs lost to rain on the first day.
After the interval, Dowlin continued his patient accumulation of runs but lost partners Derwin Christian (7), Neil McGarrell (29) and Mahendra Nagamootoo (26) as Guyana progressed to 484 for eight at tea, adding 121 runs in the session.
Dowlin, who was unbeaten on 97 at the break, brought up his third first-class century with a square-drive for four off pacer Adam Sanford.
