BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Debutants Jeetendra Sookdeo and Anthony Bramble hit half-centuries to spur Guyana to first innings points against the Leeward Islands on the second day of their first round TCL West Indies Under-19 Challenge match yesterday.

Resuming on 75 for five in reply to the Leewards’ 172, Guyana were dismissed for 178 to take a slim six-run first innings lead as Sookdeo (53) and Bramble (51) led the fight at Kensington Oval.

At the close, the Leewards were in trouble in their second innings on 116 for six, a lead of 110, despite a fighting 42 from Kejel Tyson.

Pacer Leon Scott (3-36) and off-spinner Herman Latcha (2-9) have been the main wicket-takers for the defending champions.

Guyana began the penultimate day needing another 98 runs for first innings points with five wickets in hand on a track which got better for batting.

Sookdeo, unbeaten on 37 at the start and Bramble, yet to score, took their team to 112 with intelligent batting.

Sookdeo batted fluently and reached a debut half-century from 117 balls in 151 minutes, with four fours before he was run out 39 minutes before lunch after adding 39 for the sixth wicket with Bramble.

Latcha joined Bramble and the pair took the score to 130 before Latcha (2) was also run out as careless work between the wickets by the Guyanese provided the Leeward Islands with two wickets in the first session.

Tottering at 138 for seven at lunch, Guyana were revived by Bramble who pulled Phillip for his fourth four to reach his maiden fifty at this level off 117 balls in 166 minutes.

He was caught behind off spinner Tervin Osbourne for 51 at 166 for eight to end a fighting 28-run, eighth wicket partnership but Guyana managed to eke out the remaining runs to grab first innings points.

Left-arm spinner Jurnell Turner finished with three for 58 while Adelvin Phillip (2-27) and Osbourne (2-36) gave support.

West Indies Under-19 left-hander Kieran Powell again fell cheaply for five with just five runs on the board but Sherwin Peters joined first innings centurion Chesney Hughes and counter-attacked the Guyana new ball pair with some delightful shots.

Peters was eventually caught behind off Scott for 19 on the stroke of tea to leave the score on 33 for two and Guyana struck quickly on resumption when the burly Kadeem Phillip (2) was brilliantly caught at long-leg by a leaping Joseph at 39 for three.

A stupendous catch low at slip by Jonathan Foo off Scott accounted for the Hughes (12) as the Leewards slipped to 51 for four and two more wickets saw them crumble to 96 for six.

Tyson, who hit six fours in his 75-ball 42, resisted until he was neatly stumped off Latcha.