IT was carnage at the Lusignan ground in sweltering heat

yesterday as Guyana beat Barbados by nine wickets to take a 2-0

lead in the developmental bilateral five-match 40-overs U-13

between the two countries.

On good track and still a fairly fast outfield despite the seasonal

rain, Guyana, chasing the 138 all out in 39.2 overs made by

Barbados, galloped to 139-1 in 23.4 overs to spare.

Watched by a fair-sized crowd which included West Indies off-spinner

Kevin Sincliar and West Indies Women’s player Shabaka

Gajnabi, the left-handed Guyana Captain Lomar Seecharran was

on fire; hitting 12 fours and three sixes in a pugnacious

unbeaten 82 from 52 balls.

The wicket-keeper/batter out of the Demerara Cricket Club followed up his entertaining 79 on Saturday with brutal display as his family enjoyed the onslaught.

He dominated a 48-run opening stand with the burly Nathaniel

Ramkelawan who reached the boundary twice in his 12 before

Jaheim Springer dismissed him in the seventh over. But that

was to be the only success for the young Barbadians as they

chased leather for the rest of the game.

Sahid Gajnabi joined his Skipper and the pair featured in an

unfinished 92-run second wicket partnership in nine overs as

Seecharran, who represented Guyana at this year’s regional U-17

tournament in Trinidad, raced to his second consecutive fifty

from just 27 balls.

Gajnabi from Chesney in Berbice, played the supporting role to

finish unbeaten on an elegant 20 from 25 balls with a four and

six.

Seecharran toyed with Bajan bowlers with several imperious

cover drives while not being afraid to play the hook shot when

the fast bowlers bowled short.

Earlier, 12-year-old Malteenoes off-spinner Deshawn Ramnauth,

bowling with impressive guile, flighted the ball and

consistently beat the left-handers when the ball turned away

from them.

Watched by his parents, Ramnauth finished with 3-21 from

eight frugal overs and got support from pacers Jasani Craig and

Adrian Emmanuel who picked up two wickets each when the

Bajans batted.

Craig removed Oliver King (4) before Emmanuel dismissed Jon

David Green (4), Avery Boyce (1) and Kaymani Inniss was run

out for a duck as the visitors slipped 32-4 in the 10th over.

Kadeen Wilkinson, the son of Broadcaster Barry Wilkinson,

faced 30 balls for his 12 and along Natarie Lavine which saw the 50

posted.

Lavine, arguably the best player in the Barbados side, followed

up his 37 from the first game with an accomplished 65 from 77

balls with five fours and two sixes before he was trapped LBW to

Craig.

Ramnauth befuddled the batter as the Bajans again showed

their susceptibility to spin.

The series which was organised by the Guyana Cricket Board

(GCB) and the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) will see the

third game played at Lusignan tomorrow before the action

shifts to Everest for the final two matches.