A masterful knock of 114 off 139 balls from former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batsman Gajanand Singh, was not good enough to prevent Lennox Cush’s XI from going down to the Guyana KFC squad by 37 runs in a practice game at the Everest Cricket Club ground yesterday.
Taking first strike on a wicket that was conducive to stroke play, the Guyana KFC team was able to reach 243-9 off their 50 overs after being 115-5 in 31.5 overs.
However an 88-run sixth partnership between captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and the in-form Berbice middle order batsman Assad Fudadin, who made 88 off 109 balls with three fours and three sixes saw the KFC team reach a respectable total.
The two came together at the fall of Chris Barnwell’s wicket, who was lbw to Devendra Bishoo for four.
They brought a degree of respectability to the national team’s total during their stay which lasted for 14.4 overs before Sarwan went for 47 with the score at 203.
So cautious was Sarwan’s innings that he struck only one boundary.
The national team added a further 40 runs for the loss of three more wickets thanks to some boisterous hitting by wicket-keeper Darwin Christian, who made a blistering 20 from nine balls which included two thunderous sixes to post 243-9 off their 50 overs.
It was to eventually prove a winning target.
Bowling for Cush’s XI, West Indies Under-19 captain Steven Jacobs, took 3-50 from nine overs whilst former national Under-19 fast bowler, Brandon Bess, took 2-28 from his ten overs.
There was a wicket each for Bishoo, Trevon Garraway, Veerasammy Permaul and Cush for 29, 35, 35 and 38 runs respectively.
In reply, Cush’s XI found runs hard to come by against the new ball attack of ex-West Indies fast bowler Reon King and Esaun Crandon, both of whom bowled with pace, vitality and swing.
None of the top order batsmen hung around long enough to partner Singh.
Orin Forde, who batted at number seven helped Singh post 72 for the sixth wicket in 15.4 overs.
Forde made 23 off 44 balls whilst Berbice wicket keeper Kwesi Mentore, made 23 not out off 36 balls as Cush’s XI ended up on 206-7 when their overs were completed.
Singh had earlier gotten his hundred off 126 balls and he had struck two sixes and one four.
Bowling for the national team, King took 2-24, Crandon 2-18 and Zaheer Mohammed 2-39 whilst Chris Barnwell took 1-20.
The KFC squad will oppose the same opponents at the National Stadium, Providence tomorrow.
Coach Albert Smith, in an invited comment, told Stabroek Sport that he was happy with the result.
“Despite the early excitement when we lost some quick wickets, we still stuck to our game plan,” he said.
“Sars (Sarwan) and Fudadin stuck it out for us to help post a decent total. I am a bit disappointed in some of the batsmen from the other side and I am looking forward to a better performance from them in the next game,” Smith stated.
