From Calvin Roberts
in Barbados
Compliments of Smalta, Cummings Electrical, Life-time Realty, P&P Insurance, Cellular Plus and Hanes (Guyana) Limited
Defending champions Guyana find themselves in a must-win situation if they want to retain their West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/TCL sponsored Regional Under-19 three-day title when the final round commences today.
They face Trinidad and Tobago from today at the Lester Vaughn School, Cane Garden, St. Thomas, Barbados three points adrift on front runners and host Barbados who will oppose Jamaica.
Guyana began the defence of their title on a high with back-to-back victories over the Leeward and Windward Islands respectively whilst their third round clash with host Barbados ended luckily in a no result after rain interrupted their first innings reply to Barbados’ challenging 300-9 declared.
In the penultimate round against Jamaica, they allowed their opponents to recover from 83-5 to post a formidable 354-9 declared at the end of the first day.
Then, their batting, which has not lived up to expectations throughout the tournament, only mustered 214 giving the Jamaicans a 140-run lead which they turned into 255 after 54 minutes of play on the final day.
Were it not for captain Eugene La Fleur’s defiant knock of 85 (13×4; 176 balls & 278 minutes batting), the defending champions would have been facing a deficit of six points instead of the three going into the final round.
Should there be a repeat of that performance either with bat or ball against Trinidad and Tobago in this encounter, then the defending champs can safely kiss the trophy goodbye.
Much of the team’s problem has had to do with the batting and openers Royan Fredericks and Trevon Griffith will need to improve on the 35-run opening stand they posted against Barbados in the third round.
Griffith, who scored a defiant 69 in the first innings against Jamaica needs to carry on when well set while the team management is probably hoping that Jeetendra Sookdeo, who was injured in the match against Jamaica will occupy his customary number three position.
Jonathan Foo has promised much but is yet to post a 50 after two seasons at this level while Seon Hetymyer, like Foo is talented but unable to convert that talent into runs.
The failure of Foo and Hetymyer has left a window of opportunity open for Royston Alkins although he is susceptible to the spinners.
The diminutive La Fleur has twice posted face saving innings for his country whilst batting at number six while Essequibo’s Dillon Heyliger got his opportunity to showcase his batting talent in the first innings where he clobbered his way to 46 mixing aggression with sound defence even though he was given three chances.
He should retain his place for this encounter especially with his medium pace bowling that will serve as a back up to the front line pacers.
Wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble held the lower order together against the Leeward Islands in the first innings with a maiden half century that ensured the Guyanese got first innings points but has faded away since then whilst his keeping has improved leaps and bounds.
Not much can be said of the lower order batsmen who have all tried to stick it out for their team led by 16-year-old fast bowler Keon Joseph who has put up his hand twice so far in the tournament in partnership with La Fleur to defy both the Windward Islands and recently Jamaica from romping to victory.
Herman Latcha has also stuck it out for his team with the lower order, whilst Leon Scott, who did not play in the last game due to a sore back, showed some resistance against the Windward islands in the second round when he batted for 45 minutes and faced 32 balls without scoring.
The bowlers have done their jobs for their team throughout the tournament and on a fast Lester Vaughn track, the Trinidadians will find Scott, Joseph and Heyliger a handful.
They will be supported by Hetymyer and Latcha, who has improved after receiving tips from former national under-19 off spinner Sean Devers, offering support.
The Twin Island Republic team boasts three centurions in the tournament to date in the likes of their captain and West Indies Under-19 opener Adrian Barath along with Evin Lewis and Kjorn Ottley whilst Akeil Cooper and Kareem Jumadeen can all handle themselves with the bat.
Both Barath, who represented his country in this year’s Carib Beer series before leaving for Malaysia to represent the West Indies at the Youth World Cup and Ottley, were a part of the Trinidad and Tobago team last year.
Their bowling rest vest on the shoulders of fast bowlers Hakeem Mitchell and Sheldon Dogan with support coming from leg spinner Yannick Cariah who took 8-70 from 25.2 overs to set up the win against the Windward Islands in the last round.
The Trinidadians are in third position, seven points behind Guyana.
He can expect support from left-arm spinner Javed Boodram along with Jumadeen.
The toss in this encounter would be an important one but for Guyana, consistency and not complacency would be the key if they are to overcome the Trinidadians whilst at the same time, hope that the Jamaicans can stave off the challenge of the host team in their encounter at the Cable and Wireless/BET ground.
Teams with points in brackets from: Guyana (31points): Eugene La Fleur, Royan Fredericks, Trevon Griffith, Jeetendra Sookdeo, Seon Hetmyer, Jonathan Foo, Anthony Bramble, Royston Alkins, Herman Latcha, Totaram Bishun, Dillon Heyliger, Keyron Fraser, Keon Joseph and Leon Scott.
Trinidad and Tobago (24 points): Adrian Barath, Aaron Alfred, Marc Panchu, Javed Boodram, Evin Lewis, Kjorn Ottley, Omeshwar Ramoutar, Hakeem Mitchell, Nicholas Rampersaud, Yannick Cariah, Ako George, Sheldon Dogan, Akeil Cooper and Kareem Jumadeen.
Umpires are P. Grazettes and R. Harrison (R. Broomes standby) play will start at 10:00hrs.
