Two Guyanese in the West Indies U19 female team

ON a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Brian Lara Academy in South Trinidad, Guyana, led by Realeanna Grimmond, beat the Leewards on the DLS system to win their second CWI Rising Stars Women’s U-19 Regional Championships T20 title.

This was Guyana’s first title since 2017 and Coach Clive Grimmond said It was a great feeling to make his country proud.
Grimmond spoke with Chronicle Sports from his Hotel room in Trinidad on Saturday Evening after the tournament concluded.

“Last year we finished second to Jamaica but this year we went all the way…the girls are so happy” exclaimed Grimmond in his fourth tournament as Guyana U19 Female Coach.
Grimmond who has been the Coach for the last three years after doing the job for the first time in 2014, said the tournament standard was good and has improved.

The former GNIC first-Division cricketer informed that despite the rain, the ground was in top shape and only one game was washed out in the tournament.
He added, “Two players from the Guyana team have been selected for the West Indies u19 team, while three members of our team will not arrive with us since they have to attend a camp. One of the positives from this tournament is the quality of the Guyana players which was very good. Even those who were here for the first time looked the part” continued Grimmond who has been a coach for 16 years.

Grimmond who has also worked with the senior team, lamented that the quality of the batting in the tournament however, continues to be the biggest issue.
“The bowling was of a high quality and the leading wicket-taker was Guyanese Trisha Hardat while a girl from the Leewards scored the most runs which shows that female cricket in the smaller Islands is on the rise.
Our bowling attack was strong with two leg spinners and an off-spinner, in addition to three fast bowlers.” posited Grimmond

The Coach was very impressed by the performances of Hardat, Danellie Mannas and Naomi Barkoye.
“I feel if the players continue to work hard and keep improving we could do even better since about 10 players will be available for next year,” concluded Grimmond.

The Manager of the victorious team was former West Indies Women’s fast bowling all-rounder Tremaine Smartt who was the Coach when her charges took championship honours in 2017.