By Brij Parasnath in Trinidad and Tobago

GUYANA continued their impressive performances in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under-17s 50-overs-a-side tournament and registered a convincing six-wicket over Barbados in their second-round match contested at the Inshan Ali Park, Preysal, yesterday.The Barbadian batsmen had absolutely no answer to the spinning wiles of the Guyanese bowlers and were humiliated in dramatic fashion as they were bundled out for a paltry 59 all out in 34.3 overs.
Kevin Sinclair (10-3-19-4), Kelvin Umroa (6-4-5-3), Kevlon Anderson (5-1-9-1), Ashmead Nedd (6-4-6-1) and Alpheus Bookie (5-1-11-1) did the damage for the Guyanese.
Only Shian Brathwaite offered dour resistance and mustered 15 runs off 70 balls while extras provided a healthy portion of 17 to the total on a pitch that had the ground staff using the heavy roller to get it in shape for the one-hour delayed start at 10:30hrs.
Guyana’s vice-captain and wicketkeeper Joshua Persaud was magnificent behind the stumps and effected three smart stumpings and held a brilliant catch which allowed the bowlers to perform their magical spells against the flat-footed Barbadians, who were totally clueless of how to negotiate the Guyanese off-spinners who wreaked havoc on the placid pitch.
Facing such a small total can instil complacency but skipper Bhaskar Yadram and his vice-captain added 20 for the second-wicket stand after opener Sachin Singh (3 runs off 10 balls) was dismissed with the score at seven for one.
Yadram, after playing out 26 balls, was deceived and offered Jamali Lynch a catch off the bowling of Camarie Boyce. Persaud soon lost Alpheus Bookie for zero, caught Nico Reifer off Joshua Bishop, who finished with two wickets for 22 from 9.1 overs.
Guyana were in some trouble at 23 for three but Persaud and Steve Deonarain averted disaster and added 16 for the third wicket before Persaud was adjudged lbw to Boyce for 17 that was scored off 47 balls and included one boundary.
Deonarain (18 not out, 2×4, off 37 balls) and Sagar Hatharami (4 not out) rallied Guyana to victory and shared an unbroken 17-run fifth-wicket stand.
Wicketkeeper Joshua Persaud who effected three stumpings and one catch plus the 17 runs was voted Player-of-the-Match.
Guyana won the opening round match against Leewards and need to keep up the winning momentum and stay in contention to win the regional Under-17 title.