Guyana’s Jonathan Foo produced a magical display of power-hitting to stun Barbados and single-handedly won the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board’s Caribbean T20 title for his country. Before Saturday’s epic final match, the 19-year-old right-handed all rounder from Berbice had showed great enterprise but he saved the best for the last at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.
Foo struck four crunching boundaries – including two off the first two balls of the final over – and three magnificent sixes in an unbeaten 42 from 17 balls that turned the game completely.
For their brilliant effort Guyana won the sparkling, new Caribbean T20 trophy, which was presented to skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan by Dr Julian Hunte president of the West Indies Cricket Board, along with a checque for US25 000 and a place in the Airtel Champions League, to be played in South Africa next month.
Foo, who is the son of a Chinese father and Indian mother and was later declared the man of the match for the finals, shared an unbeaten last wicket stand on 24 from 11 balls with Devendra Bishoo, who had the honor of hitting the winning run.
“For me, I have a simple method …. I see the ball and I hit it … full stop,” Foo said. “I feel really great to win for Guyana . For the first few games (of CT20) I felt comfortable but tonight was a little different …
I was really nervous at the beginning. When I started to strike the ball I settled down and just played my natural game. I kept looking at the scoreboard. I knew once Bishoo stayed with me I could win the match for Guyana ,” Foo said.
Sarwan was full of praise for Foo and said he is a special talent.

“The difference between the two teams tonight was one man and that man is Jonathan Foo. For someone so young to go out there and do what he did for the country, under such pressure, is truly remarkable. He was sensational and he’s the reason why we are happy and all Guyanese are happy tonight (Saturday night).”
The team was expected back home last night.