FRIENDSHIP, Barbados,  (CMC) – Fifteen-year-old opener Shimron Hetmeyer slammed a delightful century to pilot Guyana to a comprehensive victory over the Windward Islands, in the second round of the Regional Under-19 one-day Championship here yesterday. The left-handed Hetmeyer compiled a brilliant 116 to propel the Guyanese to 317 for eight off their 50 overs, after being sent in at the Yorkshire Sports Club.
Ricardo Adams stroked a whirlwind 52 and solid opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 26.
Fast bowler Shaquille Browne finished with three for 50.
In reply, captain Jerlani Robinson blasted 80 from 66 balls and opener Keone George, 44, but the Windwards still came up short.
Pacer Romario Shepherd led Guyana’s attack with four for 58.
The stage belonged to Hetmeyer, however, as he dominated an opening stand of 108 with Chanderpaul.
He went on to reach his century off 112 balls in 146 minutes with 12 fours and one six.
The Berbice High School student, playing in his first year of the tournament, was dismissed when he failed to clear the deep mid-on boundary and was well caught by Gidron Pope with Guyana on 193 for three.
Overall, he faced 118 balls and struck 14 fours and two sixes.
After losing another quick wicket at 198, Adams picked up the momentum and with Kamesh Yadram (23), added 71 for the fifth wicket.
Adams went on to reach his fifty off 23 balls with two fours and five towering sixes while Yadram faced 20 balls and cracked two four and a six.
The Windwards started disastrously losing openers Gidron Pope with the second ball of the innings, caught behind off Shepherd without scoring.
Robinson, however, joined George and together featured in a second wicket partnership of 115 off 15 overs.
George struck a four and a pair of sixes off 49 balls before falling leg before to Vijai Surajpaul.
In the meantime, Robinson reached his fifty off 41 balls with eight boundaries and found useful partner in Tarryck Gabriel after George’s departure, to add 48 for the third wicket.
When both batsmen fell within ten runs of each other, Larry Edward (31) and Roland Cato (26) tried to keep the Windward in the match but in vain.