(WICB) Bridgetown, Barbados — Chanderpaul Hemraj made a back-to-the-wall century to pull Guyana out if deep trouble and set-up a superb victory over Barbados as the West Indies Cricket Board’s Under-19 50-over tournament continued today.
The 18-year-old Hemraj, who made his first-class debut earlier this year, scored 100 not out to guide the second half of the innings after his team slipped to 160-7. Guyana eventually closed on 237-9 off 50 overs after being asked to bat first on a good pitch at Foursquare Oval.
Hemraj, an attacking left-hander, hit eight massive sixes – including three over long-on in an over off left-arm spinner Chad Williams. He added a crucial 53 off 59 balls for the eighth wicket with tailender Romario Shepherd.
The Guyanese then bowled and fielded well to limit the Bajans to 197-9. This gave them victory by 40 run and kept them top of the standings with two rounds of matches to be played. It was the first defeat for the home side in this year’s tournament.
Jamaica’s Bryan Gayle also made a match-winning century in a tight two-wicket win over Trinidad & Tobago at the Banks Brewery ground. Gayle battled cramp late in his knock to make 102 – his second limited-over century for Jamaica at this level –
as his side reached 218-8 off 49.2 overs in reply to T&T’s 217 all out off 48.3 overs.
Gayle moved from 85 to 95 with a four and a six and reached his century with another huge hit which sailed out of the ground. He added 100 for the sixth-wicket with Brandon King, who made 30 off 86 balls after Jamaica slipped from 49-0 to 54-5 in the space of four overs. Left-arm spinner Javon Ali caused some panic with 3-26, but he played second best to Gayle’s brilliant batting.
Nearby at LIME SC, Windward Islands proved too strong for ICC Americas in a match reduced to 29 overs per side. Opener Gidron Pope batted through the innings to end 72 not out off 77 balls with seven fours and two sixes as the Windwards hammered 82 runs in the last 10 overs to end 171-7.
In reply Kamau Leverock, a Bermuda national senior representative, played some brilliant strokes in 56 off 53 balls. The left-hander hit four leg-side sixes and briefly threatened to spring a surprise on the Windwards but pacer Ray Jordan took three wickets in a good spell to end the match.
SCORE SUMMARIES
At Foursquare Oval: Guyana beat Barbados won by 40 runs.
Guyana 237-9 off 50 overs (Chanderpaul Hemraj 100 not out, Shimron Hetmeyer 60; Jameel Stuart 3-30, Chad Williams 3-39) Barbados 197-9 off 50 overs (Shai Hope 45, Marlon Welcome-Goodman 42; Gudakesh Motie 2-32, Shawn Pereira 2-34)
At Banks Brewery SC, Wildey: Jamaica beat Trinidad & Tobago by two wickets.
Trinidad & Tobago 217 all out off 48.3 overs (Vikash Mohan 76, Ewart Nicholson 36, Jeremy Solozano 30; Oshane Walters 4-41, Christopher Powell 2-33, Bryan Gayle 2-40) Jamaica 218-8 off 49.2 overs (Bryan Gayle 104, Brandon King 30, Oshane Walters 25; Jovan Ali 3-26)
At LIME SC, Wildey: Windwards Islands beat ICC Americas by 42 runs.
Windwards 171-9 off 29 overs (Gidron Pope 72 not out, Taryck Gabriel 25) ICC Americas 129-8 off 29 overs (Kamau Leverock 56, Akash Shah 28; Ray Jordan 3-38, Preston McSween 2-15)
