– Barbados clinches title thanks to pace points
Despite beating the Leeward Islands U-15s by 147 runs in the fifth and final round of the CWI Rising Stars U15 50-overs competition yesterday, Guyana’s U-15 side had to settle for runners-up of the competition despite being level with Barbados on wins (4 wins and a no result).
While both sides finished unbeaten and on 18 points each, Barbados had the edge via bonus points for pace bowling with four points, while Guyana just had 2.8 fast bowling points. The Bajans ended up with a total of 22 points, while Guyana fell agonisingly short with 20.8.
Playing against the Leeward Islands at the Liberta Sports Club Ground in Antigua, the Guyanese were sent into bat after Adrian Hetmyer lost the toss. Buoyed by well-composed half centuries from opener Parmeshwar Ram and number three batsman Emmanuel Lewis, the Guyanese posted 258/8 from their allotted 50 overs before they returned to bowl out their counterparts for 111 (35.4 overs) to wrap up victory.
After losing opening partner Khush Seegobin (19), Ram combined with Emmanuel Lewis to put Guyana in a solid position by the time the latter was run out for 60. Lewis’ 60 came off 55 deliveries and contained five fours and three sixes. Guyanese skipper Hetmyer joined Ram after Lewis’ run-out, and they also put on a good partnership. Ram would make an even 60 (83 balls, 4sx5) while Hetmyer fell two runs short of 50. Hetmyer’s 48 spanned 66 deliveries and saw him reach the boundary on four occasions.
After those two were dismissed, Guyana’s momentum waned, and only Shamar Apple (18) and Danvir Seegobin (18) would reach double figures, with the Guyanese ending on 258/8. In response, the Leeward Islands folded for 111/9 after one of their batsmen could not take to the crease, retiring hurt. Only four batsmen got into double figures, as Arif Khan (2/40, 10 overs), Ram (2/32, 7 overs), Rivaldo Perreira (2/11, 3 overs), and Richard Ramdehol (2/0, 0.4 overs) each chipped in to bowl Guyana to victory.
Meanwhile, Barbados batted first in their encounter against the Windward Islands and made 297 all out (49.2 overs) before bowling out their opponents for 105 (26.2 overs) to be crowned champions.
Barbados and Guyana were notably scheduled to clash in the opening round of the tournament, but the game was called off without a delivery being bowled due to torrential rainfall at the time.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, Guyana’s skipper Adrian Hetmyer finished fifth on the run-scoring chart with 155 runs from four innings with an average of 51.66 and a strike rate of 88.57.
Notably, Rivaldo Perreira was the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the tournament, claiming 10 wickets at 3.91 runs per over and an average of a wicket every 8.60 balls.
The Bajans, with the win, have dethroned last year’s winners, Trinidad and Tobago.
