By Calvin Roberts
@ Lester Vaughan Secondary School
Cane Garden, St. Thomas
Compliments of Smalta, Cummings Electrical, P&P Insurance, Lifetime Realty, Cellular Plus and Hanes (Guyana) Limited
A pugnacious innings of 96 from captain Adrian Barath and an unbeaten knock of 62 from Hakeem Mitchell saw Trinidad and Tobago wresting first innings points from Guyana at the close of the penultimate day’s play of their final round West Indies Cricket Board/TCL-sponsored regional under-19 tournament at the Lester Vaughan Secondary School ground yesterday.
The two received admirable support from Yannick and Kjorn Ottley who contributed 45 and 42 runs respectively as Trinidad reached 336-9 at the close of play.
After resuming on 22 without loss with Barath on 12 and Evin Lewis eight in response to Guyana’s first innings score of 227, Trinidad ended with a handsome lead of 109.
Mitchell still there unbeaten on 62.
Scores Guyana 227, Trinidad and Tobago 336-9.
Barath, who represented the West Indies at the Under-19 Youth World Cup in Malaysia, weathered the pace of Keon Joseph and Leon Scott.
He had a bit of luck. Attempting to cut Scott’s first delivery of the day through point, he got a thick outside edge which flew past Trevon Griffith at gully and went down to a wide third man for four.
He was fortunate not to be run out two deliveries later when he attempted a cheeky single of Scott but Dillon Heyliger’s return did not make contact with the wicket after Barath was sent back by Lewis.
Barath reached his half century off 59 balls striking eight fours and one six.
He then went into overdrive pulling Eugene La Fleur through backward square for his ninth boundary two balls later.
He lost Lewis who was caught by Bramble off La Fleur for 30 after facing 61 balls and striking four fours and one six in 76 minutes.
New batsman Nicholas Alexis was given a life by La Fleur who failed to hold onto a straight forward catch off the bowling of Seon Hetmyer when the batsman was on 11.
But Heyliger got his man when Alexis was caught by wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble playing a loose shot to a delivery pitched on his off stump five minutes before lunch.
At lunch Trinidad were 133-2 with Barath on 81.
After lunch Guyana looked more purposeful in their approach and were rewarded with the wicket of Barath who, despite pulling Latcha over long on for six to inch closer to what would have been his second century of the tournament, was adjudged lbw to the fiery Joseph for 96 to leave Trinidad on 150-3.
Barath faced 107 deliveries, hitting 15 of them for fours whilst clearing the boundary rope twice during his 143 minutes stay at the wicket.
Joseph struck two deliveries later when he bowled Akeil Cooper who was beaten for pace with a perfect yorker without scoring to leave Trinidad on 150-4 in the second over after the luncheon interval.
Ottley released the pressure created by Joseph by hitting the bowler through mid on for four.
But Latcha, who was bowling a tight line after the luncheon interval, had Aaron Alfred caught by La Fleur at forward short leg for two at 164-5.
This brought Yannick Ottley to join his older brother Kjorn and the pair took the score to 215-5 at tea with Kjorn on 31 and Yannick 26.
After tea, Kjorn drove Foo through the cover region for four, but lost his wicket shortly after seeing his team to first innings points.
He was caught by Trevon Griffith at forward short leg off Foo for 42 bringing an end to a sixth wicket partnership with his brother Yannick that was worth 68 valuable runs for Trinidad.
Foo struck in his next over when he removed Omeshwar Ramoutar whom he had caught by Bramble without scoring at 237-7.
Guyana took the new ball with Trinidad 261-7 and immediately Joseph struck by removing Yannick Ottley who was caught by Latcha at gully fending off a short delivery for 45.
He faced 93 deliveries and struck eight fours whilst batting for 137 minutes.
But Hakeem Mitchell and Rickson Maniram, were able to see their team to a sizeable lead.
Mitchell is so far unbeaten on 62 made from 48 balls and decorated with eight fours and two sixes, whilst Sheldon Dogan is not out on three.
Joseph has so far taken 3-68, Foo, 2-27 and Latcha 2-41.
Today is the final day and unless something miraculous happens which is highly unlikely, Guyana can very well kiss their title goodbye.
