By Delvon Mc Ewan
Inspired by leg-spinner Steven Sankar’s five-wicket haul on the final day of the second round West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-19 match, Guyana recorded a convincing four-wicket victory over the Windward Islands yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
Sankar claimed three wickets in the first session to accompany his two from the previous day as the Windwards were bowled out for 165 after resuming on 79-4.
Scores in the match the Windward Islands 139 all out and 165; Guyana 243 and 62-6.
Sankar’s 5-53 from 25.5 overs was his first five-wicket haul in his second year of the competition.
The Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) bowler, who bowled inconsistently against the Leeward Islands finishing with two wickets, bowled with control to end with match figures of 6-88. Off spinner Sharaz Ramcharan continued with his penetrative bowling, collecting 3-44.
Set a target of 62 for victory, the hosts lost six wickets before reaching their target. Skipper Brian Sattaur batted aggressively to top score with 31 (4×4, 1×6) from 32 balls while Tagenarine Chanderpaul with 10 was the only other batsman to reach double figures.
Ashkay Homraj (09) took Guyana home with a vicious straight driven boundary off Craig Phillip that went for four. Shaman Lewis and Phillip claimed two wickets each for the Windwards.
Earlier, the Windwards, resuming on 79-4, with Roland Cato (15) and Anson Latchman (12), lost Latchman (run out by Ashkay Homraj) for his overnight score as just two runs were added before the first wicket fell.
Windwards captain, Cato (46) and Doran Edward then partnered for a patient 41 runs before Cato was bowled by Sankar.
At lunch the Windwards were 159-9 with Deron Hypolite on 20 and Craig Phillips on one.
After the interval the pair managed to resist for 1.5 overs before Sankar had Hypolite caught at short leg for 20.
With the win Guyana remained in contention to win its first title since 2007. The locals will now move their focus to the match against Trinidad and Tobago who suffered two outright defeats from as many games. The match will be played at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda from tomorrow at 10:00a.m.
