By Kizan Brumell
Half-centuries from Imran `Taliban’ Hussain and Danny Narayan ensured Malteenoes gain a first innings lead over Guyana National Industrial Corporation in the final of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) Cellink Plus first-division three-day final at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Bourda ground yesterday.
At the close of the third day of the four-day final, Malteenoes were 245-7 replying to GNIC’s first innings score of 209 all out.
After a rained out second day, play began as usual yesterday with GNIC resuming on 205 – 9.
They added only four more runs before being dismissed for 209 in 96.1 overs.
In reply, an unbeaten innings of 60 from Narayan and 54 from Hussain helped Malteenoes to a first innings lead of 36 with three wickets remaining but the prognosis for this match is surely a tame draw.When Malteenoes batted, West Indies selector Clyde Butts bagged two wickets as Malteenoes lunched at 111-2.
Butts removed opener Shemroy Barrington to a catch at short leg by Elton Baker for 24.
But West Indies’s Under-19 player Steven Jacobs and Hussain added 53 for the second wicket before Hussain was also dismissed by the wily off-spinner Butts for 56 after hitting three fours and a six.
Jacobs was dismissed in the second over after lunch, stumped off the bowling of Mark Montfort for 19.
Orin Forde and Dion Ferrier made 15 and 22 respectively but were removed in the space of two runs by Monfort and Richard Chatwia respectively as Malteenoes slipped to 150 – 4.
However, Randy Lindae and Narayan added 81 runs for the fifth wicket taking their team’s score past GNIC’s 209 before Lindae fell for 31.
Clive Andries went without scoring even as Narayan brought up his 50 in 96 balls.
At close of play, Narayan and Jeremiah Harris were unbeaten on 60 and five respectively.
Monfort was the pick of the bowlers with 4 – 53 while Butts supported with 3 – 62.
Today is the final day.
