WILDEY, Barbados, CMC – Leaders Guyana registered an easy five-wicket victory over Leeward Islands here yesterday to inch even closer to the capture of the Regional Under-19 one-day Championship.
Set a modest target of 95 runs, Guyana got home off 22.2 overs with Tagenarine Chanderpaul finishing unbeaten on 29 while Shimron Hetmeyer scored 28.
They shared an opening stand of 42 to lay the foundation for victory.
Earlier, the Leewards were routed for 94 off 28.5 overs after being sent in at the LIME Sports Club, with only opener Darren Hobson showing any enterprise with 48.
Omari Matthews was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 11.
Fast bowler Romario Shepherd destroyed the innings with four for 17 off 6.5 overs while off-spinner Shawn Pereira captured three for 28 and pacer Mark Tyrell, two for 30.
The Leewards lost their first wicket with the score on five when opener Duan Webbe was bowled by Tyrell for five looking to drive.
Shawn Tuitt followed quickly at 17 for two, bowled after Tyrell breached his defensive shot.
Captain Akeem Saunders (3) put on 27 for the third wicket with Hobson before he was caught at second slip off Shepherd and Ashawn Hodge was taken by Shepherd at cover off Pereira for three, as the Leewards slipped to 50 for four in quick time.
Matthews held up Guyana’s advance when he combined with Hobson to put on 28 for the fifth wicket.
When he was caught at cover by Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai off skipper Pereira for 11, the resistance ended as Hobson followed five runs later, taken at mid-wicket by Vijai Surajpaul off Pereira looking for a big hit.
The right-handed Hobson faced 77 balls and struck three fours and a six.
In their turn at the crease, Guyana were put on course for victory by Chanderpaul and Hetmeyer before fast bowler Colin Archibald (3-32) caused a few anxious moments.
Hetmeyer struck four fours and one six in a brisk innings off 19 balls before he was caught by Tristan Hanley at slip off fast bowler Shevon Moore who claimed two for 45.
The dangerous Chandrapaul Hemraj was caught at gully off Archibald without scoring as he shaped to drive, leaving Guyana on 42 for two.
Archibald then threatened to turn the game on its head when he removed Brian Sattaur and Mohan Ramdeen in successive deliveries as Guyana tumbled to 56 for four.
Sattaur was caught by Hobson at slip for five and Ramdeen was also held in the cordon by Hanley.
Chanderpaul, however, who faced 50 balls and counted two fours, combined with Pereira (12) to post 34 for the fifth wicket and avert danger.
Guyana will not feature in tomorrow’s final round of matches as they have drawn a bye.
