IT was a ‘who is who’ of former and present national cricketers who joined President H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali at Everest yesterday for a match to honor the cricketers of the 1983 Guyana team.

The match, formed part of four days of activities to remember the historic Guyana team, which became the first side to win the ‘double’ in the same season (1983), was held as a memorial T20 fixture for the three members who are now deceased.

Hundreds of older fans flocked the Everest ground to create feeling of nostalgia when the bespectacled Sir Clive Lloyd, with familiar stooping walk and His Excellency President, Dr Irfan Ali strolled out on the pitch to toss the coin.

In glorious conditions for cricket with the strong Atlantic Breeze blowing across the Everest sward, President Ali elected to bat on a track which will be dug-up today as preparations the T20 World Cup in June commences.

His Excellency, an avid cricket fan and a more than average tape ball batter and West Indies player, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of Test great Shiv Chanderpaul, opened the batting.
They played cautiously as Collis Butts, the son of the late Clyde Butts, the leading wicket for Guyana in 1983 side, opened the bowling.

Chanderpaul, in his last match before leaving for Antigua with the Guyana team for the fourth round of the Regional First-Class tournament, drilled former Guyana player Steven Jacobs to mid-off after making eight before 1983 medium pacer Garfield Charles rolled back the years by removing Chris Barnwell (9).
Barnwell’s demise brought former West Indies Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan to join the Guyanese Head-of-State, who favoured the cut.

The President who benefitted from a few close decisions, looked compact before he was deceived and was stumped for 10 by 1983 leg spinner Derek Kallicharran who still looked fit.
While the 43-year-old Sarwan looked his elegant self with well-timed drives, he pulled Kallicharran for four before he was run out for 18.

Imran Khan, of Stanford T20 fame, played several delightful sweeps in his 22.
Sports Minister Charls Ramson Jnr, who played First-Division cricket for Everest in early 1990s, played several entertaining shots in his confident 39 before he retired.

Fourteen-year-old Guyana U-15 all-rounder Adrian Hetmyer finished off the innings with boundary to take the score to 134.
The large gathering, some of whom parked their vehicles just beyond the East boundary, a regular feature at ‘country’ grounds like Skeldon in Berbice and Hampton Court in Essequibo, but a first for Everest, one of four grounds in the city which hosted First-Class matches, created a wonderful atmosphere.

When Sir Clive’s team batted National left-hander Matthew Nandu (21) and former West Indies Test batter, Seenarine Chattergoon, who scored a century in 2005 when Guyana last won a regional 50-over title, top scored with 35.
Roger Harper turned back the clock with some authoritative shots including a six of a free-hit from Lennox Cush, the only bowler with two hat-tricks in regional t20 cricket.

Harper reached 22 and Shemroy Barrington (21) and T20 Hero Jonathon Foo hit cameo 18 in a losing cause as the Sir Clive’s team lost by two runs.
The result was immaterial to the occasion as the elderly players had plenty of fun as they signed autographs and took photos as the lives of Butts, Roy Fredericks and Andrew Lyght were celebrated in a ‘one Guyana’ environment.
The players will attend a Presidential dinner this evening before departing for their respective destinations.