The Guyana Under-19 female cricketers experienced mixed fortunes in the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Invitational T20 competition which was contested from July 18-21, in Trinidad and Tobago.
The team was coached by former national cricketer Andre Percival and was managed by
West Indies female player, Tremayne Smartt.
The team which consisted of 12 players who were on their first overseas-tour, won one game and lost one with two games abandoned due to rain.
The team accumulated four points in all; two points for the one win and one point each for the abandoned matches.
The scheduled first match against Barbados last Thursday was washed out but the Guyana U19 team easily defeated St Lucia by five wickets in the second which was reduced to 15 overs-a-side-affair.
Batting first, St Lucia reached 63 for 5 but the Guyanese ladies chased the target down comfortably reaching 64 for 5 in 13.2 overs with Latoya Smith, 22 and Lashana Toussaint, 14, being the top scorers.
On Saturday, they lost to the Trinidad and Tobago Board XI who posted 74 for 8 in their 20 overs before dismissing the Guyanese for 55 in 18.3 overs.
The final match on Sunday saw the Trinidad and Tobago’s top team being suffocated by the Guyanese who left them reeling at 28 for 9 before the hosts managed to crawl to 56/9 in their 20 overs.
Paffiana Millington grabbed 3 for 11 while Steffi Rodney, Mandy Mangru and Monique Benn snatched two wickets each. Rain halted the Guyanese chase washing out the rest of the game.
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago Board XI were tied at the top with five points but Barbados was adjudged the winner due to a better net-run-rate.
As part of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) Developmental Plan, targeting women’s cricket, the tour was arranged to ensure that Guyana’s national female team is provided with young blood and continued talent. This outing was made possible by the GCB who aided the team by covering all airfare costs and stipend for the players.
Prior to the tour, the U-19 girls played in trial matches against the senior women’s team to assist their preparation after which the national U19 team was selected and encamped for four days before they left for Trinidad on July 17.
The team was Anita Goberdhan, Daveena Goberdhan, Latoya Smith, Odessa Caesar, Lashuna Toussaint, Mandy Mangru, Erica Batson, Paffiana Millington, T’Keyah Isaacs, Shabika Gajnabi, Steffi Rodney, Shirley Boyce, Monique Benn and Teniesah Cort.
