-50 over final rained out

PUGNACIOUS Guyana and West Indies Under-19 opener, 17 year old Shimron Hetmyer was yesterday named the Most Valuable Player (MVP), when the curtains came down on this year’s West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under-19 50 overs championship at the Everest Cricket Club ground.Points leader Guyana and the second placed Windward Islands turned up at the Camp Road based venue to contest the final, but an early morning shower which took place just before the players took the ground to conduct their warm-up session, left the outfield water logged.
After several inspections by the three umpires which included former first class player Deighton Butler, the contest was called off at 14:00hrs, with Guyana being declared the winner according to the playing conditions, since they topped the points table with an unblemished record, having won all six of their matches.
The win yesterday culminated a fine season for the youths from the Land of Many Waters, as they had less than two weeks ago, adorn themselves in glory by claiming the three day version of the tournament for the first time in seven years.
Yesterday’s win also made the Guyanese the third team after Windward Islands and Jamaica, to land the double crown at the youth level, a feat that was hailed magnificent by Director of Sport within the National Sports Commission, Neil Kumar during his brief address at the presentation ceremony.
“This tournament was indeed a highly successful one and we need to congratulate the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) who organized such an efficient and well organized tournament, while I wish to say to the Windward Islands team, you have come a far way and continue to strive for excellence, while to the Guyana team, congratulations on your success, you truly played as champions.”
Acting president of the GCB Fizul Bacchus said he was thankful for the confidence the WICB expressed in the GCB to have them host the tournament, while he congratulated the Guyana team for being victorious in both formats of the tournament, which was a success as well for the GCB.
WICB Cricket Operations Officer Rawle Lewis thanked everyone for their sterling contribution over the past 28 days towards making the tournament a success, even as he too expressed congratulations on behalf of the WICB to Guyana for landing the double and Windward Islands for reaching the finals.
Apart from his MVP award, Hetmyer also received trophies after being named the Batsman of the Tournament for his 331 runs scored and Batsman with the Highest Individual Score, following his 123 against the Windward Islands in the penultimate round at Albion last Tuesday.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Akiel Seetal won the Best Bowler award for his 15 wickets, even as Jamaica’s Romain Morris was named the Best Wicketkeeper with the Most Dismissals, before Guyana’s skipper Brian Sattaur stepped up to receive the championship trophy from Lewis.

(By Calvin Roberts)