Guyana attained their first outright win of the 2007 Carib Beer Series cricket competition when they defeated the Leeward Is-lands by three wickets in the fourth round encounter at the Albion Community Development Centre ground yesterday.
Despite a good bowling performance by former West Indies pacer Adam Sanford (4-56) Guyana weathered the storm reaching 240 for seven at just around 2pm yesterday afternoon.
Continuing from their over-night score of 121 for three and chasing 237 for victory, Guyana lost Azeemul Hannif (not out 19 overnight) caught by Steve Liburd at second slip trying to cut a Sanford delivery.
Guyana skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan (not out on 13 overnight) began cautiously but then started to accelerate pulling consecutive balls from Sanford for boundaries.
Lionel Baker came on and Sarwam attempted to pull another short delivery got a top edge and Sanford took a brilliant one-handed catch while running backwards.
Sarwan’s innings of 40 included seven boundaries.
His place was taken by wicketkeeper Derwin Christian who scored nine before trying to hook a short ball from Sanford and feathered a catch to the ‘keeper with 10 minutes to go to lunch.
Mahendra Nagamootoo and Deonarine took Guyana to lunch at 191 for six.
Deonarine straight drove Kerry Jeremy fiercely for four and followed that by whipping the next ball off his hip to the square leg fence.
But Tonito Willet removed him caught behind for 36 including four boundaries with 19 runs still needed for victory and with three wickets standing.
Esaun Crandon and Nagamootoo saw Guyana home. Nagamootoo hit Jeremy to the long on fence then top-edged a hook off the next ball to the fine leg fence to win the game for the home team.
Leewards in their first innings were bowled out for 187 while Guyana passed that score by eight runs. They then bowled out the Leewards in their second innings for 244 leaving them to get 237 for victory which is merely academic because despite the win Guyana are only on 20 points which places them in fourth position.
The two teams will contest the KFC one-day competition tomorrow at the same venue.
Narsingh Deonarine was named man-of-the-match.
