Powell ton puts Leewards in control over Guyana
… Carthy and Louis also contributed

INSPIRED by a splendid ton from Ross Powell, backed by useful contributions from Kasey Carthy and skipper Jeremiah Louis, Leeward Islands were large and in charge against hosts Guyana at the end of the second day’s play of their first-round West Indies Cricket Board Under-19 three-day encounter, yesterday, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.Resuming the day on 21 for 1 in reply to the home team’s first-innings score of 270, the visitors ended the day’s play yesterday on 300 for 8 from 113 overs, thanks to Powell’s 130, with Carthy 64 and Louis who was unbeaten on 49, offering support.
Shiraz Ramcharran and Steven Sankar have so far taken two wickets each for 45 and 71 runs respectively for the home team, who will be looking to dismiss their opponents early on today’s final day.
Early in the day, Powell started in pugnacious fashion with Shaquille Martina (6) as his partner, by hitting Kemo Paul for two fours in the first over of the day’s play, while a short ball from Keon Morris was pulled for four, forcing Brian Sattaur to turn to Ramcharran after only 20 minutes of play.
Sankar was also introduced into the attack at the Pavilion End and he got the breakthrough, trapping Martina lbw at 49 for 2, a wicket that enabled Powell and Carthy to join forces and add 97 for the third wicket, during which time both batsmen posted their half-centuries.
Powell was the first to reach the target, doing so off 90 balls and 116 minutes batting, counting eight fours and a six off Morris, even as his team reached 100 off 42.4 overs, with his contribution being 55 and Carthy’s 35.
Carthy got to his half-century in fine style after lunch which was taken with Leewards 104 for 2, when he struck Balchand Baldeo through the cover region for his eighth four, having faced 115 balls while batting for 102 minutes.
However, when he was well set to score a ton, he played a wild swing at Paul and lost his off stump at 146 for 4 in the 61st over, with Powell on 67.
The Leewards later lost Ashran Hodge (13) at 183 for 4, but the burly Mohit Hingorani joined forces with Powell and piloted him to the tea break with Leewards 190 for 4, with Powell on 94 and Hingorani yet to score.
After the break, Powell got his maiden ton at this level from 260 balls while batting for 295 minutes in which he struck 13 fours and one six, before Hingorani was caught by Ramcharran at mid-off, when he looked to hit Sankar over that area.
Guyana took the new ball with Leeward Islands 221 for 5 and for the visitors, it was a blessing in disguise as Powell got a hat-trick of fours off Morris in the first over with the new cherry, before he (Powell) was caught by Morris at extra cover off a top edge from Ramcharran at 254 for 6.
In all he batted for 346 minutes, faced 293 balls and struck 19 fours and one six in his innings and when he departed, Alzarri Joseph struck Ramcharran over long on for six, to hand the visitors the lead.
Even though Joseph was dismissed, caught by Shimron Hetmyer at long on off Ramcharran, Louis continued with the no-nonsense approach his lower order batsmen had shown, hitting Sankar for two sixes to remain unbeaten on 49 at the close having as his partner, Colin Archibald who is on one.

(By Calvin Roberts)