– Defending champions Guyana roared back to score an outright win over the Windward Islands after dropping first innings points and despite a rain affected final day
From Calvin Roberts in Barbados
Compliments of: Ansa McAl, Cummings Electrical, P&P Insurance, Lifetime Realty, Cellular Plus and Hanes (Guyana) Limited
True champions show their mettle when the chips are down and Guyana’s under-19 cricketers did just that yesterday at the Combermere School ground in Barbados.
Trailing the Windward Islands by 71 runs on first innings in their second round TCL regional cricket tournament after a mediocre batting display, they fought and scratched their way to a second innings total of 217.
Then with the Windwards needing to score a meagre 147 for an emphatic outright win, the Guyana bowlers rose to the occasion and sent the islanders crashing to 99 all out as Guyana triumphed by the comfortable margin of 47 runs.
The win overshadowed the fine bowling effort of Kerron Cottoy who took a career-best 8-89 in the Guyana team’s second innings.
Cottoy mesmerized the Guyanese batting with his leg spinners to claim his second five-wicket haul of the game for eventual match figures of 13-98.
He received support from Alton Audain (1-17) and Dalton Polius (1-51).
Needing to score 147 to win from 54 overs, the Windward Islands, who were 4 -0 at lunch were dismissed for 99 at 3:26pm.
Opener Wayne Harper made 38 as Totaram Bishun (3-9) and Eugene La Fleur (3-34) did the bulk of the damage for the Guyanese.
Scores Guyana 118 and 217 Windward Islands 189 and 99.
Guyana struck quickly upon resumption as Harper steered Scott past the hands of Trevon Griffith at slip for four but lost his partner Dennis Smith who was lbw to Keon Joseph for eight.
At 15-1 it was the breakthrough the Guyanese needed.
Kaveem Hodge opened his account by whipping Leon Scott off his legs to long leg and then through the gully area for boundaries which pushed the score to 24 while Harper got into the act by hitting Joseph between cover and extra cover for another boundary.
But Hodge was dislodged by skipper Eugene La Fleur who had him caught at the wicket by Anthony Bramble for 12.
He faced 27 balls and struck three fours.
They say never run on a misfield and Rudolph Paul (8) found out why yesterday when he was run out attempting a second run on a Bishun misfield.
Polius joined Harper who was steadfast in his defence against the spinners and even though they survived some anxious moments caused by bad judgment when running between the wickets, they still managed to eke out 13 precious runs before Polius was caught by Bramble off la Fleur for five.
The introduction of Bishun paid immediate dividends as he had Cottoy caught by Hetymyer at mid-off with his second delivery while Jonathan Foo, who replaced La Fleur at the Southern End, had Junior Jervier lbw on the stroke of tea without scoring leaving the Windward Islands shakily placed on 84-6 at tea with Harper on 37.
Guyana struck a double blow within five minutes after tea with the wickets of Harper, who was smartly stumped by Bramble off La Fleur for 38 and the hard-hitting Delorn Johnson who was caught by substitute Dillon Heyliger at cover for 6 at 91-8.
It became 94-9 when Vincent Lewis (00) attempted to hit Bishun over midwicket but found Heyliger who gleefully accepted the chance to spark off semi celebrations amongst the defending champions.
It was all over bar the shouting when Oscar George was run out by substitute Royston Alkins for eight leaving Alton Audain unbeaten on nought.
Guyana, who had earlier resumed on their overnight 153-6, was bowled out for 217 a mere 15 minutes before lunch.
For Guyana, La Fleur played a captain’s innings and was the last batsman to be dismissed for a well-played 70.
He faced 248 balls and struck six fours whilst batting for 249 minutes.
He had resumed with the in-form Jeetendra Sookdeo who was the first to go, caught at the wicket off Cottoy for seven in the third over of the day.
Joseph joined La Fleur with Guyana 156-4 and together they frustrated the opposition whilst adding 50 invaluable runs for the eighth wicket in hazy conditions.
La Fleur was in a dominant mood. First he drove an over pitched delivery from right arm leg spinner Cottoy for four and followed it up with an audacious drive through mid off for another boundary as he raced to 49.
He duly reached his maiden half century at this level by sweeping his 159th ball from Cottoy down to deep backward square.
He batted for 162 minutes and struck five fours.
Joseph then struck Cottoy over mid off and all along the ground for consecutive boundaries as the pair pushed the score along.
Taking a liking to Cottoy’s bowling Joseph hit the Windward Islands skipper over short mid off for another boundary to post the team’s 200 in the 55th over, but gave the bowler a return catch attempting another big hit.
He made 21 from 43 balls whilst batting for 43 minutes hitting three fours.
La Fleur found a useful ally in Bishun and they continued to frustrate the opposition with sound defence until the clouds opened up and forced the players off the field.
At that stage Guyana were 215-8 with La Fleur, whose previous best was 42 against Trinidad in St. Kitts last year, on 70 (6×4; 235 balls) whilst Bishun was on two (21 balls).
When play resumed 20 minutes later, Bishun cut a short delivery from Cottoy into the hands of Polius who was stationed at point with the score on 216-9 and La Fleur quickly followed him into the pavilion after he was caught by Vincent Lewis at cover off Cottoy leaving Scott unbeaten on one.
After their rest period today and tomorrow, Guyana will take on host Barbados from Monday at the BET ground whilst the Windward Islands, who have not won a game at this level following their last tournament triumph in 2000 under the captaincy of Devon Smith, will take on Jamaica at Kensington Oval.
