From Calvin Roberts
at the Kensington Oval, Barbados
Compliments of Ansa Mc Al, Cummings Electrical, P&P Insurance, Hanes (Guyana) Limited and Cellular Planet
A four- wicket haul from fast bowler Leon Scott 4-37), fine leg-spin bowling by Jonathan Foo (3-15) along with a resilient innings of 77 from Jeetendra Sookdeo, his second half century of the match, spurred Guyana to a five-wicket win over the Leeward Islands in their first round encounter of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/TCL-sponsored 2008 Under-19 cricket tournament at the Kensington Oval ground here yesterday.
Needing to score 134 to win from 78 overs, Guyana ended on 134-5 with Seon Hetmyer, who was forced to retire hurt after being hit by Adelvin Phillips in the area of the groin on five and Anthony Bramble on four.
Guyana’s run chase got off to a disastrous start when vice captain Royan Fredericks was lbw to the third ball of the innings from Phillips which that kept low.
Sookdeo then drove Phillips exquisitely through the cover region for four and followed it up by steering the next delivery through the slip cordon and down to long leg for another to push the score to 11-1 at the end of the third over.
Opening batsman Trevon Griffith was given a life by substitute Kenroy David at cover off the bowling of Clinton Payne when on nought and the score on 11.
But Sookdeo continued his fine showing from the first innings by driving Payne through extra cover for three and followed that up by thumping Phillips through point for four.
Griffith too displayed his driving ability when he drove Payne all along the ground for a couple while Sookdeo got a thick outside edge from an expansive drive which went down to backward point for four.
Next, Griffith went down the track to a juicy full toss from Turnerand worked the ball off his pads to the long-off boundary for four whilst Sookdeo clipped off-spinner Osborne to a wide long-on boundary for another four as the defending champions pressed forward to victory.
Taking a liking to Osborne Griffith steered him past the slips and down to the third man boundary for another four as the 50 partnership came off 14.2 overs and 59 minutes.
However, Griffith was adjudged lbw to Osborne off the next delivery for 16. He faced 45 balls and batted for 60 minutes hitting two fours.
An early lunch was taken at 51-2 following an injury to new batsman Hetmyer who was struck in the groin by Phillips.
Sookdeo was on 31 when Hetmyer was forced to retire hurt on one.
After lunch, Foo replaced Hetmyer and immediately came off the mark by driving Phillips through the point region for four.
Sookdeo then dispatched Phillips with disdain through the cover region for another boundary.
Foo was unlucky to be given out lbw by umpire Richard King after getting an inside edge onto his pads from a Phillips delivery. He made four and Guyana were 54-3.
Captain Eugene la Fleur and Sookdeo posted 51 for the fourth wicket during which time Sookdeo realized his 50 when he edged a delivery from Phillips to the third man boundary.
It was his eight boundary from his 77th delivery during his 103-minute knock.
He had a slice of luck when he offered a caught and bowled chance to Jurnell Turner’s first ball, but the bowler failed to hold onto the catch.
Sookdeo continued to plunder the bowling in tandem with his captain and they brought up the 100 for their team when Sookdeo guided Chesney Hughes through point for two in the 33rd over.
However attempting to hit Osborne out of the ground with victory just 19 runs away, he watched as Payne who was patrolling the long of boundary took a running catch.
Sookdeo’s 77 came from 115 balls and he batted for 152 minutes, hitting nine fours.
La Fleur followed shortly after when he was caught by Kadeem Phillips off the bowling of Osborne at 125-5.
He made 14 from 77 balls and batted for 86 minutes.
Hetmyer duly resumed his innings and together with Bramble carried their team to victory when Hetmyer cut Kadeem Phillips to third man.
Phillips took 2-39 whilst Osborne ended with 3-44.
Earlier, the Leeward Islands resumed on 116-6 and lost Walters to the first ball of the day as he pushed tentatively forward to Foo and got an edge through to La Fleur at first slip. Foo struck again two over later when he had Phillips adjudged lbw playing across to a low full toss at 120-8.
Hamilton, who was being patient during his innings, then opened up by hitting Foo over long on for six to carry the score to 129-8 before holing out to Sookdeo on the long on boundary.
He made 27 from 95 balls hitting one six whilst batting for 96 minutes and at his dismissal, Leeward Islands were 137-9 and leading by 131 runs.
It was all over in Scott’s next over the 54th of the innings and 10th of the day, when Tevin Osborne was adjudged lbw without scoring at 139 leaving Turner not out on five.
Scott led the bowling with 4-37 and received valuable support from Foo (3-15) and Herman Latcha 2-18. Keon Joseph who had earlier removed Kieron Powell the previous afternoon ended with 1-34.
Today and tomorrow are rest days and the defending champions will resume their hunt of retaining their title on Wednesday when they face the Windward Islands at Combermere ground.
