By Rajiv Bisnauth

A TOTAL team effort was the key ingredient in Guyana’s five-wicket win over the Windward Islands on Sunday in the final of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Under-19 tournament, claims captain Travis Persaud. Speaking to media operatives yesterday after the team’s arrival at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Persaud lauded his players for their commitment and hard work throughout the game and more so the entire tournament.
“This win was a total team effort in every way. We did well in all departments and the way we executed our plans also contributed well for our success. As I said before we departed Guyana knowing that we have a strong team in order to defend our titles.
“We didn’t perform so well in the three-day, but we bounced back nicely in the one-day,” Persaud said.
Persaud credited the entire team for their performance but acknowledged that the senior players were their main weapons for success.
“Everybody did their part, everyone did what was expected of them, everybody acted in the capacity they were chosen to act on, and everybody gave a hundred percent, and in the end we came out successful,” Persaud pointed out.
Also on hand to congratulate the players were Director of Sport Christopher Jones, president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Drubahadur, Marketing manager Raj Singh, chairman of the GCB’s Competitions Committee Colin Europe and chairman of the senior selectors Rayon Griffith.
Jones in his remarks congratulated the team for their success on behalf on the Guyana government and by extension the National Sport Commission (NSC).
The Director of Sport urged the players to continue the winning habit, adding that their success is a demonstration that the efforts of their trainer and coaches have definitely paid the dividends.
He implored the youngsters to continue to be humble, and at the same time continue to develop as Guyanese best cricketers, with the ultimate aim to represent the West Indies.
Drubahadur lauded the players for their success.
Guyana finished second in the points standing at the end of the seven-team round-robin series. In an invited comment coach Adrian Amsterdam indicated that the players were determined to play as true champions.
He added “It was a very professional performance. If you look at the whole tournament then, everyone did contribute: the bowlers bowled well, there were some good batting innings, and the fielding was good too.”
“So credit goes to the entire bunch of boys for their professional approach. I always believed that we had the talent to finish on top,” Amsterdam pointed out.
The Guyanese were dethroned by Trinidad and Tobago in the three-day competition.