From Calvin Roberts
in Barbados
Compliments of: Ansa Mc Al, P&P Insurance, Cummings Electrical, Life-time Realty, Hanes (Guyana) Limited and Cellular Plus
Defending champions Guyana were fighting to save their second round match of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/TCL under-19 tournament against the Windward Islands at the Combermere Secondary school ground, Bush Hall yesterday.
Facing a first innings deficit of 71 runs Guyana were 153-6 at close of play yesterday.
They lead by 82 runs with only four wickets remaining.
Earlier, the Windward Islands resumed their first innings on 120-3 and found the pace of Keon Joseph (2-13) and Leon Scott (2-25) along with the spin of Latcha (3-37) too much for them.
They were indebted to a breezy innings of 41 from Delron Johnson who was given a life when on five for their eventual total.
Totaramn Bishun chipped in with 2-78 while Eugene La Fleur had 1-23.
Scores so far Guyana 118 and 153-6; Windward Islands 189.
Batting a second time, openers Trevon Griffith and Royan Fredericks posted 32 for the first wicket with some sensible running between the wickets and pugnacious drives.
However, Dalton Polius who took four wickets in the first innings, was introduced and he immediately removed Griffith who was caught at the wicket by Smith as he pushed tentatively forward to a delivery that spun back into him.
He made 21 from 35 balls hitting two fours whilst batting for 50 minutes.
Jonathan Foo started cautiously as the pair set about ‘Operation Rebuild’ for Guyana.
However, Fredericks was caught by Polius at slip off Cottoy for 13 with the addition of only eight runs.
Seon Hetmyer came off the mark with an audacious on drive off Polius to push the score to 46-2 while Foo got into the act by sweeping Cottoy through backward square for another boundary.
However, attempting to repeat the shot, he was caught by Rudolph Paul at forward short leg off Cottoy for 12 as Guyana slipped to 58-3.
Guyana had barely erased the deficit and were ahead by two runs when Hetmyer was bowled by Cottoy who got one to spin back from outside leg.
He faced 35 balls and struck two fours in his 16.
With the in-form Jeetendra Sookdeo unable to bat at the number three position due to a side strain, the defending champions were staring straight down the barrel of defeat at 73-4 with the cream of the batting back in the comfort of the cool shade of the pavilion.
They limped to 85-4 from 36 overs at tea with Anthony Bramble on 17 and captain La Fleur not yet off the mark.
Cottoy had grabbed three of the four wickets to fall for 23 runs whilst Polius had 1-29.
Four balls after the resumption Bramble was caught by Marvin Small at mid-off as he attempted to hit Alton Audain over the top.
Herman Latcha joined La Fleur who was yet to open his account and pulled Cottoy through backward square for four and, after the first hour’s play after tea, Guyana were 122-5 with Latcha on 17 and La Fleur who had pulled Hodge through a wide mid off for 4 on 16. Latcha and La Fleur continued to soldier on adding a further 10 runs to their sixth wicket partnership of 47 with the latter hitting Cottoy through mid-wicket for four.
However in the same over, the bowler had Latcha caught by wicket-keeper Smith for 19 from 87 balls in 80 minutes.
Sookdeo joined La Fleur and were together at the close with Sookdeo on six and La Fleur displaying a fighting spirit on 37 that is decorated with three fours. He has so far batted for 164 minutes whilst facing 136 balls, while Sookdeo has so far faced 34 balls during his 39 minutes stay at the wicket.
Their partnership is so far worth 21. Cottoy, 4-47 Audain, 1-17 and Polius 1-42 are the wicket-takers.
Earlier, Junior Jervier was the first batsman to be dismissed when the Windwards resumed on their overnight score of 120-3.
He was caught by Latcha at mid-wicket off Scott after adding one to his overnight score of 24.
Paul replaced him but Keon Joseph induced him to drive at a delivery that was pitched outside off-stump and he offered wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble a catch at 125-5.
Polius (25) and Cottoy (1) were both dismissed three runs later courtesy of a lbw decision that accounted for Polius from a Scott delivery that trapped him on the crease whilst Cottoy was caught by Bramble off Latcha.
It could have been 133-8 had Totaram Bishun held on to a chance offered by Johnson off Scott at forward square. The batsman made full use of the life by hitting Scott first over his head and through extra cover for boundaries.
To rub salt into the wound, Johnson struck Bishun, who had replaced Scott at the Northern End, back over long on twice for sixes and then over mid off for four in one over as the score raced to 176-7.
Latcha then held on to a skier from Johnson off his own bowling after the batsman attempted to hit him back over his head. He made 41 from 31 balls hitting three fours and two sixes whilst batting for 41 minutes and adding 50 runs for the eight wicket with Oscar George who contributed seven.
Vincent Lewis was then caught by Joseph on the long on boundary as he too attempted to hit Latcha out of the ground at 181-9. The end came at 189 when Joseph returned to have Alton Audain (2) adjudged lbw eight minutes before the scheduled luncheon interval.
George who had gotten into the run scoring act against Bishun by hitting him over extra cover for four was left unbeaten on 15 as the Windward’s increased their lead to 71 runs adding a further 69 runs for their final seven wickets.
Today is the final day and the defending champions with a lead of 82 runs will definitely be looking to get some more runs on the tins as they press for an unlikely come from behind victory.
