After living up to their reputation as one of the better teams in this year’s NAGICO Regional Super50 tournament by handing the Irish a 114-run trouncing in their first match, Guyana will now look to advance to the next stage when they lock horns with defending champions Windwards today.
Guyana steamrolled Ireland in the opening match for their first victory of the competition compliments of a 62-ball 89 from former West Indies and Guyana skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan who hammered 10 fours and four sixes in his innings.
This was after openers Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 79 and Trevon Griffith, 62 had set the tone at the top of the order.
A quick-fire 31 off 15 balls from skipper Christopher Barnwell and Leon Johnson’s cameo 27 off 14 balls in the middle-order propelled the nine-time 50-overs-a-side champions to 301 for 4. The Irish who entered this year’s competition with a powerful batting reputation were humbled after being skittled out for 187 in 38.3 overs.
The confident Guyana side, which departed these shores with much expected of them after nearly one month of vigorous training, will head into today’s clash against the Windwards who were narrowly routed by 14-runs in their first match against Jamaica knowing that a win will earn them a spot in the semi-finals.
The defending champs, lost their opening game to the Jamaicans despite Keddy Lesporis’ unbeaten 98-ball century which was reinforced by ex and current West Indies openers Devon Smith who scored 52 and Johnson Charles who made 40.
It took a fourth wicket stand of 179 between Tamar Lambert (88) and Andre McCarthy (93) to set up the nail-biting win for the Jamaicans.
The Windwards will now look to their batters to provide similar scores in today’s encounter against the red-hot Guyanese. Despite flexing their muscles in the batting department, the Windwards bowling display was at best decent and they will be keen on improving that aspect of their game.
Much will depend on Guyana’s top and middle heavy batting order which clicked dangerously against Ireland. Chanderpaul and Griffith scored almost at the same rate and added a foundation century first-wicket stand which perfectly set up the onslaught dished out by Sarwan, Barnwell and Johnson.
The Guyanese bowlers looked effective with swing bowler Paul Wintz standing out with figures of 3-30, while fellow pacer Ronsford Beaton claimed two wickets.
Spin twins Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo grabbed a wicket apiece and Narsingh Deonarine’s knack of picking up wickets saw him grabbing 2 for 6 from two overs.
Those performances have so far placed the Malta Supreme sponsored Guyana team at the top of Group A’s table with five points and a net run rate of +2.280, statistics which will give Guyana much needed confidence ahead of today’s encounter.
Guyana’s second day/night match is set to bowl off at 14:00hrs local time at the Queens Park Oval ground.
Guyana: Christopher Barnwell (captain), Shiv Chanderpaul (vice captain), Anthony Bramble (wicket-keeper), Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz, Ramnaresh Sarwan; Esuan Crandon (coach).
Windward Islands: Liam Sebastien (captain), Andre Fletcher (vice captain), Johnson Charles (wicket-keeper), Tyron Theophille, Mervin Matthew, Craig Emmanuel, Garey Mathurin, Keddy Lesporis, Devon Smith, Dalton Polius, Delorn Johnson, Kenroy Peters, Romel Currency, Alston Bobb; Ian Allen (coach).
