By Delvon Mc Ewan
An entertaining century from Shimron Hetmyer highlighted the second day of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-19 second round match between Guyana and the Windward Islands helped place the hosts in command at the end of play yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
West Indies U-19 player Hetmyer blasted 13 fours and four sixes from 128 deliveries to take the locals past the Windwards first innings total of 139. He featured in a valuable first wicket partnership of 108 runs with his fellow West Indies U19 cricketer Tagenarine Chanderpaul (24) as Guyana fell for 243 in 67.5 overs. It was Hetmyer’s first century in the three day version at this level to follow up his limited over century against the same opponents last year. The Berbician, who is known for his aggression, batted fluently as he added 99 runs to his overnight 26 in just over an hour into the morning’s play.
Hetmyer’s performance dominated the first session where the hosts scored 118 runs and lost five wickets as the two teams battled for the ascendancy. The second session followed in similar pattern with Guyana scoring 125 runs and losing five wickets.
Besides Chanderpaul and Hetmyer, Ashkay Homraj (40) was the only other player that past 20. Doran Edmond, who took the prize wicket of Hetmyer was the most effective bowler for the visitors claiming 3-42 while Deron Hypolite and Gildron Pope picked up two wickets each.
A fiery opening spell by Kemo Paul marked the beginning of the final session as Winwdward commenced its second innings. Paul removed Pope off the second delivery of that innings after he had miscued a pull from the previous ball.
Leg spinner Steven Sankar has so far been the pick of the Guyanese bowlers as he collected two wickets after bowling with good control and varying pace. Ramcharan was the other wicket taker as the Windward ended the day on 79-4 from 35 overs still 25 runs adrift from avoiding an innings defeat.
Roland Cato and Anson Latchman has so far added 31 for the fifth wicket and will start the final day on 15 and 12 respectively.
