_{… delivered on the GCB’s 5-year plan, says Sanasie} 

_{THE national Under-19 cricket team touched down on home ground to a warm welcome yesterday, following their incredible performance at the just concluded Regional Under-19, 50-over championship.}

_{The members of the team, coached by Julian Moore, came out of the Eugene F. Corriera International Airport at Ogle, where they were received by Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Anand Sanasie and Director of Sport Christopher Jones, a few fans and family members who had assembled to welcome the young heroes.}

_{After a disappointing performance in the three-day competition, where they surrendered their title to Trinidad and Tobago, the Guyanese produced a dominant performance in the one-day format of the tournament to lift the trophy for the fifth year straight, losing just a solitary match to Barbados.}

_{The Guyanese finished with 27.8 points, 5.5 points ahead of Trinidad & Tobago. The Jamaicans ended with 20 points, 1.2 more than Barbados, whose final matches against Leewards ended in a no-decision following a series of rainy days.}

_{Hosts Windward Islands were fifth with 17.2 points, Leeward Islands were sixth on 8.8 points and Canada finished at the bottom of the seven-team table with 0.6 point.}

_{Sanasie, a Cricket West Indies director, extended kudos to the players and management team for a job well done and urged the young cricketers to continue to work diligently for more success.}

_{Sanasie declared that the team had delivered on the GCB’s five-year play by winning the title for the fifth consecutive year.}

_{“Our five-year plan has been executed by the team and winning this tournament for five straight years was something we had in our business plan,” Sanasie said.}

_{Jones, who was also on hand to extend congratulations to the young cricketers on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, urged the young ambassadors to aim high, as their goal should be to one day represent the senior West Indies team.}

_{Jones noted that the GCB’s five-year plan is indeed up and running, adding that the plan is testimony to the results of the games the Under-19 cricketers would have been playing.}

_{He continued, “We would like to once again continue to support the GCB in its endeavours to ensure not only yourselves but many other young people with the potential like yourselves across the country have equal opportunities”.}

_{The successful captain, Bhaskar Yadram, was understandably elated with his players’ performance, especially after their poor showing in the three-day version of the competition.}

_{He cited total team work, coupled with disciplined bowling, especially in the fast bowling department, was key in Guyana’s one-day success.}

_{Moore, in an invited comment, praised the team for their one-day success, taking into consideration their below par performances during the three-day format.}

_{Windward Islands opening batsman Kimani Melius, was declared the Most Valuable Player and top run-scorer.  He amassed 257 runs with a highest score of 102.}