KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Mervin Matthew bowled Windward Islands to the verge of a victory over Guyana in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.
Matthew has so far snared four wickets for 13 runs from 10 overs, as Guyana, trailing by 81 runs on first innings, reached 98 for nine in their second innings at the close on the second day of their third round match at the Arnos Vale Multi-Purpose Complex.
Davendra Bishoo’s 23 has been the best effort from Guyana with the bat, and Royston Crandon made 20, but none of the visitors’ other batsmen passed 20
.
Windwards, replying to Guyana’s first innings total of 142, had been dismissed for 223 in the first hour after lunch.
But the hosts had the Guyanese reeling on 35 for three at tea, and in the final session, bulldozed their way through the lower half of the Guyanese batting.
Matthew struck early, when he removed Leon Johnson and Guyana captain Assad Fudadin for ducks, then scalped Shemroy Barrington for five to leave the visitors 22 for three. After tea, Matthew made an almost immediate breakthrough, when Crandon was bowled, and Guyana soon found themselves 46 for six. They never adequately recovered, despite some cameo batting in the lower order, and face defeat early on the third day.
Earlier, Keddy Lesporis hit 46, and captain Liam Sebastien scored 20 to help the Windwards formalise a first-innings lead.
Davendra Bishoo continued to impress with five for 92 from 33 overs, and Veerasammy Permaul collected three for 47 from 23 overs.
Both sides have accumulated seven points in the competition, but Windwards are officially fifth on the ladder, under the tie-breaker rules.
Since the turn of the century, Windwards have been the more dominant side in this fixture. Guyana started the decade with three consecutive wins, but the home team have won three times, and gained first innings points in five of the other six matches between 2004 and last year, which have all ended in draws.
Scoreboard
Guyana 1st Innings 142
Windward Islands 1st Innings
J. Charles c *Fudadin b Bess 2
T. Theophile c and b Permaul 35
A. Fletcher b Permaul 43
K. Lesporis c Johnson b Bishoo 46
K. Peters c *Fudadin b Permaul 12
*L. Sebastien lbw b Bishoo 20
D. Hector c wkpr Christian b Bishoo 14
+L. James not out 19
G. Mathurin lbw b Bishoo 1
M. Matthew c wkpr Christian b Bishoo 1
N. Pascal run out 1
Extras (b4, lb9, w1, nb3, pen5) 22
Total (all out, 82.2 overs) 223
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-82, 3-99, 4-144, 5-146, 6-186, 7-199, 8-214, 9-218
Bowling: E. Crandon 8-2-28-0, Bess 7-0-24-1, Permaul 23-7-47-3, Bishoo 33-4-92-5, R. Crandon 11.2-4-14-0
Guyana 2nd Innings
S. Barrington c Mathurin b Matthew 5
L. Johnson c Charles b Matthew 0
*A. Fudadin lbw b Matthew 0
R. Crandon b Matthew 20
V. Singh c Fletcher b Pascal 16
+D. Christian c Theophile b *Sebastien 2
V. Permaul b Pascal 12
D. Bishoo c wkpr James b Mathurin 23
R. Chandrika not out 11
E. Crandon c Hector b Mathurin 3
B. Bess not out 1
Extras (lb3, nb2) 5
Total (9 wkts, 47 overs) 98
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-22, 4-35, 5-46, 6-46, 7-66, 8-88, 9-94
Bowling: Pascal 7-1-22-2, Matthew 10-6-13-4, Peters 5-0-22-0, *Sebastien 15-5-29-1, Mathurin 10-4-9-2
Position: Guyana lead by 17 runs with one second innings wicket standing
