PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC) — Keemo Paul followed up gritting, lower order batting led by a career-best knock from Gudakesh Motie with another destructive spell, to give table leaders and reigning three-time champions Guyana Jaguars the edge over Barbados Pride in the Regional 4-Day Tournament yesterday.

Paul, the former West Indies Under-19 World Cup-winning star, has so far taken 4-38 from 18.1 overs to follow up his first-innings, five-wicket haul, as the Pride reached 126 for seven in their second innings at the close on the third day of their fifth-round match at the Guyana National Stadium, for a lead of 106.

Fellow all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford supported with 2-40 from 9.1 overs, as the Pride again failed to ease concerns about the fragility of their batting before bad light stopped play roughly 10 minutes ahead of the rescheduled close with Jonathan Carter not out on 14 and fellow left-hander Mario Rampersaud not out on one.

Anthony Alleyne has led the way for the Pride so far with 32 and their Captain Shamarh Brooks made 22, but no other batsman reached 20 as the Jaguars’ bowling turned the screws on their rivals to fortifty their bid for their fourth victory of the season.

The match still hung in the balance after two days, but Motie frustrated the Pride for close to three hours to finish with an unbeaten 72, and shared a number of vital partnerships that inched the Jaguars to 314 all out in their first innings for a lead of 20.

Keon Joseph then set the Pride back early, when he removed left-handed opener Shayne Moseley for five in the fifth over of the visitors’ innings, as they reached 37 for one at tea.

After the break, there was little stability in the Pride batting, as Paul swung into action when he bowled Brooks in the second over after tea. The rest of the batsmen surrendered tamely and the visitors slumped to 109 for seven.

Kevin Stoute was caught behind off Paul for 11, Alleyne fell to Rutherford for 32, Kenroy Williams was lbw to Paul for 11 — the same bowler that had first-innings batting hero Justin Greaves caught behind for one before Rutherford bowled the ultra-aggressive Ashley Nurse for one.

Earlier, the Jaguars, starting the day on 180 for four, rallied behind Motie to put themselves in the driver’s seat.

Motie struck 10 fours and one six from 147 balls before Nurse took 3-33 from 8.4 overs and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican 3-91 from 29 overs, to dismiss the Jaguars.

Veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who resumed on 15, was caught and bowled by Warrican for 30 inside the first hour, and wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble followed lbw next ball to leave the home team 219 for six.

Paul came to the crease and with Motie put on 45 for the seventh wicket before Williams bowled him for 19.

Rutherford again came to the rescue of the Jaguars and saw Motie to his half-century, as well as took the Jaguars past 300 before he fell to Nurse for 25.

There was token resistance from Veerasammy Permaul before Nurse bowled him for four and had Joseph caught close to the wicket two deliveries later, to wrap up the innings.

Jaguars — leaders before the start of the round with 64.8 points — have so far gained three bowling points, three batting points and 3.2 pace bowling points, and the Pride — entering third on 42.4 — have added two batting points, three bowling points and 0.4 pace bowling points.