Hetmyer and Chanderpaul hit tons as Guyana finish unbeaten

FIRST CLASS openers Shimron Hetmyer and Tagenarine Chanderpaul both struck final round centuries against Barbados at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday, as points leaders Guyana defeated Barbados by 44 runs to end the preliminary round unbeaten.

Hetmyer blasted 18 fours in his 102 *balls 123 while Chanderpaul had eight fours and one six in his unbeaten 103 that took him 150 balls to accumulate, as Guyana scored an imposing 298 for 5 to which Barbados replied with 254. Skipper Joshua Drakes hitting eight fours and one six in his 99 balls 75 and Lee-Germon Gaskin 69 (100balls, 4×4) for the Bajans.
Brian Sattaur called right and chose to bat first, following which Hetmyer and Chanderpaul, Guyana’s two West Indies Under-19 and first class openers posted 176 for the first wicket, during which time, Hetmyer struck Shamar Springer for back to back boundaries on the way to posting his third successive half century from 53 balls with seven fours.
They got Guyana’s 100 from 20.3 overs, with Hetmyer on 70 and Chanderpaul 25, while Chanderpaul opened his shoulders to hit Chad Williams over extra cover for his third four, even as Hetmyer struck Chad Williams for a hat trick of fours in the 24th over to move to 86, as Guyana progressed to 125 without loss.
Dutifully, Hetmyer got to his century after missing out on the landmark in Guyana’s last two matches. The young opener faced 93 balls, hitting 14 fours, even as his team progressed to 153 without loss in the 28th over, with Chanderpaul’s contribution being a patient 44.
After posting his ton, Hetmyer struck Matthew Jones for a hattrick of fours in the 30th over, before he was bowled looking for another boundary at 176 for 1, with his contribution being 123 scored off 102 balls with 18 fours, with Chanderpaul on 46.
Chanderpaul reached his 50 from 81 balls with four fours, while Guyana got their 200 from 35.4 overs, as he added 81 for the second wicket with Sattaur whose 38 came off 36 balls and was decorated with four fours and one six.
Kemo Paul struck two sixes and one four in his quick-fire 19 while Chanderpaul got his ton off 148 balls with eight fours and one six, before Guyana ended on 298 for 5 with Drakes taking 2 for 22 for Barbados, who were asked to chase the highest total posted in this year’s tournament.
In their reply, the Barbadians quickly lost Nicholas Kirton 10 (2×4) to be 25 for 1 in the sixth over, while two fours from Drakes off Ramcharran and another by Akil Greenidge off the same bowler in an over that cost Guyana 13 runs, pushed the score to 49 for 1.
They got their 50 from 7.3 overs, but soon lost Akil Greenidge lbw to Paul for 10 at 58 for 2, while Drakes got his maiden half century for this tournament off 63 balls with five fours before he was bowled behind his legs sweeping by Steven Sankar for 75 (99balls, 7×4, 1×6) at 139 for 3.
After seeing Gaskin reaching his 50 from 80 balls with four fours, Barbados folded to the spin of Ramcharran (4 for ) and Sankar (3 for 51) for their eventual total as the Guyanese marched into tomorrow’s final, where they face Windward Islands at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

(By Calvin Roberts)