Hemraj century, Motie-Kanhai burst put Guyana on top

Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai

BAYFIELD, Barbados,  CMC – Guyana’s Chanderpaul Hemraj christened the WICB Regional Under-19 Championship with a splendid century – the first for the tournament – but was forced to share honours with Tristan Hanley who bagged an impressive six-wicket haul here  yesterday.

Chanderpaul Hemraj

Electing to bat at the St. Catherine Sports Club, in the eastern parish of St. Philip, Guyana were dismissed for a modest 202 in 73.3 overs on the opening day. At stumps, however, Leeward Islands were reeling at 26 for four thanks to left-arm orthodox spinner Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai who wiped out the top-order with a lethal burst.

He removed all four wickets for four runs from six overs with three of the four batsmen leg before wicket and the other bowled.

Earlier Hemraj, who struck 102, went to the crease early on in the piece at number three, when Brian Sattaur retired hurt on six with the total on seven.The left-hander put on 128 with opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of Test star Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made a solid 51.

Leg-spinner Hanley, with six for 48, made the breakthrough having Chanderpaul caught at slip by Ackeme Saunders. He faced 146 balls, striking seven fours in three hours. With no addition to the total, Kamesh Yadram went without scoring off Hanley. Hemraj, who batted beautifully, found an ally in Vijai Surajpaul to take the score to 171 before Guyana quickly lost three-wickets for five runs.

Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai

Surajpaul was caught off Shervon Moore (2-30) and Hanley removed captain Shawn Pereira for one while Ricardo Adams was caught behind off Moore.

Hemraj reached the coveted landmark just before the tea interval which was taken at 186 for five. Immediately on resumption, Hanley had him caught by Deno Baker after batting for 223 minutes, hitting 13 fours and one six from 167 deliveries.

Sattaur, who resumed at the fall of Hemraj’s wicket, made 17 before falling to Baker (2-25).

Hanley quickly wrapped up the tail with a double-strike in the same over to end with excellent figures off 27 overs, including 12 maidens.