COUVA, Trinidad, CMC – Strugglers Guyana and inconsistent Leeward Islands are out of contention, but they will seek to enhance their place in the standings in the sixth round of matches in the WICB regional first-class championship, starting today at the National Cricket Centre.
The Guyanese have a mere seven points from four matches. After they drew a bye in the first round, they conceded first innings points in a drawn match with Trinidad & Tobago in the second round in Antigua before losing three straight.
Guyana were thumped by leaders Jamaica by an innings and 27 runs in the third round in Barbados, where they also lost to Combined Campuses & Colleges by five wickets in the fourth round before they were stopped in their own backyard, when Barbados won by 58 runs in the previous round.
Leewards started the season confidently, when they gained a first innings lead over the Barbadians in Jamaica.
Things went downhill however, when the Jamaicans stung them by seven wickets in St. Kitts, and T&T prevailed over them by 45 runs in Barbados either side of a bye in the third round.
In the previous round, they rebounded to smack Windward Islands by 54 runs in Guyana.
Both sides are aware that they have been performing way below their usual standards in the regional first-class competition.
Guyana manager Carl Moore Manager could not identify the reason for his side’s struggles.
“Last year, we had poor preparations because of the weather,” he said.
“This year, we were better prepared. We did a lot of training – fitness was one of the top priorities. I am very surprised that the team has not done as well as we have expected.”
He added: “We have to go back home to the drawing boards and look at where we have went wrong and come back again strong next year.”
West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul said that Guyana’s mediocre performance could steam from the lack of guidance for the younger players in the squad.
“We have a young team, and with most of the more experienced players missing because of regional duties and injuries, there was hardly any guidance for them and that is always a setback,” he said.
“We need a blend of youth and experience to play together.”
Leewards manager Hugh Gore said that his squad is going all out to improve.
“We are looking to play positive cricket,” he said. “The bowlers have done quite well this season, but the batting and fielding needs to improve.
“But we are looking forward to doing well in this match and for the remainder of the season.”
The Leewards have travelled with the same unit that won in Georgetown, but the Guyanese have trimmed their squad to 13 that includes fast-medium bowler Keon Joseph, a member of the West Indies Under-19s that finished third in the Youth World Cup last month in New Zealand.
Guyana have not won a regional first-class match in the last two seasons, but they have dominated the Leewards over the last decade.
Between 2000 and last year, they have won five, lost one, drawn four of the 13 matches the two sides have contested. The other three matches have ended in no-results.
Squads:GUYANA: Sewnarine Chattergoon (captain), Brandon Bess, Davendra Bishoo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Derwin Christian, Esuan Crandon, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Keon Joseph, Zaheer Mohammed, Veerasammy Permaul, Gajanand Singh
LEEWARD ISLANDS: Steve Liburd (captain), Justin Athanaze, Lionel Baker, Omari Banks, Dennison Browne, Wilden Cornwall, Brent Defreitas, Jamaal Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Anthony Martin, Keiran Powell, Mali Richards, Gavin Williams.
