… Guyana catapult to 74 all out
THANKS to some mesmerising spin bowling from 17-year-old off-spinner Chaim Holder who took 4 for 29 and irresponsible batting by Guyana, Barbados moved closer to the 2011 West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under-19 limited overs title, following a commanding 8-wicket victory at the Blairmont Community Centre ground yesterday. Scores: Guyana 74 all out, Barbados 75 for 2.
Play got under way 45 minutes late due to seepage on the pitch caused by early morning showers and Barbados, who made one change to their lineup, won the toss and asked their hosts to take first strike.
They got justification in such a decision, when Kyle Mayers (3-11) and Ravindra Persaud (1-13) sent back both Joemal La Fleur (6) and Dominique Rikhi (3) within the first five overs of the day’s play, with La Fleur going via a splendid catch by Neil Browne who dived to his right while stationed at second slip.
Clinton Pestano 20 (2×4) struck Persaud through backward point for four but he witnessed the dismissal of Kevon Boodie (5) and Chandrapaul Hemraj (0), as Guyana slipped to 26 for 4 in the 14th over, after being 19 for 2 from the first 10 overs of their innings.
They slipped further into the abyss, following the demise of Pestano, Kwame Crosse (12), skipper Ronsford Beaton (2), Linden Austin (2)and Amir Khan who made 1, to be 59 for 9 in the 26th over of the 48 overs-a-side contest which looked like a one-sided affair.
Ricardo Adams was joined by his namesake Anthony Adams and he displayed scant respect for Holder, when he sent the spinner crashing over wide midwicket for 6, in his usual robust style but. Guyana were bowled out for 74 in the 31st over when Anthony Adams was adjudged lbw to Mayers at 12:14hrs.
Barbados raced to 51 without loss, before they lost Kraigg Brathwaite who had earlier driven Khan through extra cover for one of his two fours before he was run-out by Rikhi after being sent back by Shai Hope.
Hope had earlier replaced the asthmatic- plagued Shane Parris after he experienced breathing problems early in his team’s innings, caused by smoke from a nearby fire, after the right-handed opener had struck Beaton for two fours, as Barbados reached 52 for 1 off 23 overs at lunch.
Anthony Adams had figures of 10-5-16-0 for Guyana at lunch and after the break, Barbados lost Hope who was lbw to Khan, but reached their target courtesy of a Mayers six over long off, off the bowling of Khan as he remained unbeaten on 13 while Alleyne was there with him on 3.
Guyana will face the Windward Islands in their final match tomorrow at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, while Barbados will take on defending champions Trinidad and Tobago at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, in what can be termed a championship encounter.