THE lone practice match the Guyana national team would be having prior to their departure for Jamaica on Tuesday for their first-round match in this year’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day competition against the Rest XI petered out into a tame draw against a Rest XI at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground yesterday. Resuming at their overnight 222-2 with skipper Assad Fudadin and Vishal Singh on 9 and 13 respectively, the National XI declared their first and only innings closed on 337-4, with both Fudadin and Vishal Singh going on to retire with their individual scores on 43 and 44 respectively.
The two added 97 for the third wicket, with Fudadin hitting six fours from 142 balls while batting for 169 minutes, while Vishal Singh struck three fours from the 119 balls he faced, while batting four minutes less than Fudadin.
The National XI then lost Royston Crandon (17) and wicketkeeper/batsman Derwin Christian (11) who was caught by Gajanand Singh at point when he looked to hit Steven Jacobs (1-26) over long off, before the declaration was made.
Devendra Bishoo, who did not bowl yesterday, ended with 2-26 for his team who were struggling on 48-3, having lost Richard Ramdeen (17), Gajanand Singh (13) and Jacobs (3), before Christopher Barnwell and Trevon Griffith steadied the innings with a 71-run partnership.
Barnwell was in a no-nonsense mood, facing 50 balls for his 43, hitting five fours and one six during his 59 minutes at the crease before he was caught by Leon Johnson at slip. When play was called off, the Rest XI were 131-4 with Trevon Griffith unbeaten on 28 with three fours from 55 balls and 70 minutes batting.
Earlier, Gajanand Singh made 23 decorated with four fours from 30 balls before he was caught by Vishal Singh at mid on off the bowling of Paul Wintz who also removed Jacobs courtesy of Johnson’s catch at slip, on his way to ending with 2-18 from his five overs, while there was a wicket each for Royston Crandon and Keon Joseph.