By Calvin Roberts
Steven Jacobs scored an unbeaten, maiden half century as Guyana defeated Canada by seven wickets in their final preliminary round match of the 2008 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President’s Cup limited overs competition at the National Stadium yesterday.
Guyana, replying to Canada’s 164-4 off 50 overs of which Sunil Dhaniram scored an unbeaten 53, scored 168-3 from 36.2 overs with Jacobs scoring 54 not out.
Earlier, Guyana, who won the toss and asked the Canadians to take first strike reaped early success when fast bowler Brendon Bess (1-20) brushed the outside edge of opener Abdool Samad’s (00) bat in the first over with the score on three.
Sandeep Jyoti (37) and Qaiser Ali (18) added 47 runs for the second wicket, before Ali cutting at a wide delivery from Mahendra Nagamootoo, was caught by Royston Crandon who next accepted a caught and bowl chance from Zubin Surkari.
However Dhaniram and Jyoti added 50 runs for the fourth wicket before Jyoti was adjudged lbw to left arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul.
Guyana, who have reached the semi-final stage of every competition since 1997, except for 2002 when the Windward Islands won the tournament in Jamaica, were left to bat four overs before lunch reaching 16-0 at the interval.
After lunch, Christopher Barnwell and Rajendra Chandrika took their opening stand to 43 before Barnwell was caught at mid off by Bhatti off Henry Osinde, following an attempted pull shot to midwicket. Narsingh Deonarine’s struggles continued as he fell for nine before Jacobs and Gajanand Singh who was not on on 21 saw Guyana home following the dismissal of Chandrika for 39.
Jacobs was named Man of the Match.
