Guyana, led by a flambouyant innings from opener Sewnarine Chattergoon defeated Team USA/Guyana by three wickets at the Albion Community Development Centre ground yesterday.
The win was worth $500,000.00 and a trophy and, sent in to bat Team USA/Guyana were dismissed for 155 to which Guyana replied with 156-7 from 35.3 overs.
Chattergoon’s innings of 60 which included seven fours and came off 70 balls was enough to earn him the man-of-the-match award.
Team USA/Guyana lost an early wicket that of Karran Ganesh who was adjudged LBW to Trevon Garraway with the total on two.
But Lennox Cush and Steve Massiah got the innings back on track with a 90-run second wicket stand.
Off-spinner Imran Jaferally effected the breakthrough by dismissing Cush who was caught by Brandon Bess running around from long-off to hold onto the catch one-handed over his head.
Cush made 50 from 71 balls which was delightfully studded with seven fours and a huge six off Jafferally.
Guyana struck two quick blows as Massiah and Gregory Sewdial were both stumped by Derwin Christian off Jafferally and Leon Johnson to leave the visitors on 107-4 in the 28th over.
Massiah, the USA captain, struck four boundaries in his innings of 33 while Sewdial made only three.
Neil Mc Garrell made 16 and Sudesh Dhaniram, 15 but the remaining batsmen fell cheaply as Team USA/Guyana fell for what proved to be an inadequate total.
Jafferally ended with 4-29 while there was a wicket each for Devendra Bishu, Johnson, Garraway and Gajanand Singh.
In reply, the home team lost their captain and main run- scorer Travis Dowlin lbw to Johnson again with the total on two before Chattergoon and Assad Fudadin added 90 for the second wicket.
The partnership was broken when Fudadin attempted to hit Mc Garrell over midwicket and was caught. His 32 came off 39 balls and was decorated with two fours.
Leon Johnson made 16 but was lbw to Harrinarine pushing tentatively forward and Homchand Pooran was run out as he failed to beat the ‘keeper’s throw to the bowler after Singh did not respond to his call for a third run.
The Guyana team seemed worried when Christian, who was finding it hard to get the slower bowlers away, was bowled by Nandalall at 133-6 while Bishu watched anxiously as Cush took what was a relatively easy catch at cover as he drove uppishly.
However Singh 26 not out eased the anxiety seeing his team home at 156-7 from 35.3 overs.
Nandalall and Harrinarine ended with 2-12 and 31 respectively whilst there was a wicket each for Johnson and Mc Garrell.
For his efforts, Chattergoon received two return tickets to Trinidad compliments of Travel Span, a trophy and $50,000.00. He also received a further $20,000.00 for being the highest run scorer in the game as well as $20,000.00 for his partnership with Fudadin who also received the same amount.
Dowlin collected the trophy and $500,000.00 for his team whilst both teams were given medallions as mementos.
There was also a gate prize of one return ticket to Trinidad compliments of Travel Span. It was won by Fajir Gajnabi (658-2111) of Kilcoy Settlement, Albion.
