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For those who felt Roland Holder was finished, he gave them 117 reasons yesterday to demonstrate he's still a high-quality batsman.

Showing no effects of a finger injury that sidelined him for the better part of last three months, this loyal servant, with the vast experience of 15 first-class seasons, completed a chanceless hundred in front of another large crowd at Kensington Oval.

Among them were some who felt Holder's days were numbered against the background that he is now 33 years of age, and in light of the fact that he had limited match practice ahead of the competition.

"I don't have anything to show to the critics. The critics can take it to mean whatever they want it to mean," he said after a solid 117, his 17th first-class hundred, 12th at regional level, first against Guyana and first at this level since 1997.

"My view is simple. I have been playing for Barbados for a number of years. Once I continue to perform and do well, it is up to the selectors to select me. I am not begging anyone to select me. I think my performance speaks for itself - take it or leave it."

With teenager Ryan Hinds, whose 60 was his fourth first-class half-century, Holder ensured that Barbados extended their overnight 304 for six to a significant 422.

By the close of the second day of the Busta Cup opener, Guyana had made an encouraging reply by posting 99 for one in three hours of application.

Little Nicholas deGroot and the left-handed Azeemul Haniff, a West Indies selectee a few months ago, added 71 for the first wicket in almost 34 overs in which both offered chances. deGroot was the more composed in his unbeaten 45, but gave a difficult tumbling chance on 20 to Philo Wallace at first slip.

Haniff's offering on 26 to Floyd Reifer at second slip was more straightforward, but his luck ran out when an alert debutant wicket-keeper Corey Glasgow accepted a chance that was initially missed by Reifer off Corey Collymore.

Collymore, seemingly with a point to prove after a series of troubling back problems, bowled with plenty of enthusiasm and deserved more than a solitary wicket.

During the morning session, Barbados advanced by 87 runs despite Guyana's persistence with a mainly leg-stump line from the spinners.

At that point, Holder and Hinds were approaching their landmarks and it was understandable that they did not throw caution to the wind.

"We recognised what they wanted to do and it was a bit frustrating," Holder said.

"They obviously decided to slow down the pace of the game. It worked to some extent where they tried to reduce the scoring. We did not want to take that extra chance."

Even without taking the chances, the scoring rate was acceptable and Holder was greeted by warm applause on reaching a century that give him satisfaction.

"It's particularly pleasing to me because Guyana was the only team that I had not gotten a regional century against," he said. "It settled that issue for me. I at least have a century against every regional side."

Hinds' half-century was also made with little bother and his contribution was one in a line of many that beefed up Barbados' total.

"All in all it was a good team effort. We all supported each other well and there were several important partnerships during the innings," Holder said.

After lunch, there was an immediate plan to lift the tempo, but it was short-lived. Holder, after batting for 5 1/2 hours in which he faced 287 balls, attempted to swing left-arm spinner Neil McGarell, but skied a catch to the bowler who he had earlier swung over backward square for six just after reaching his century.

He reported that there were no negative effects from the injury itself, but his lack of recent match practice left him slightly sore.

Hinds followed 15 minutes after Holder when he trudged onto his stumps in attempting to turn leg-spinner Ron Matthews through square-leg.

It was one of three wickets for the 17-year-old debutant. McGarell also claimed three victims and Carl Hooper took four, the two combining for 100 overs.

© The Barbados Nation