MANDEVILLE, Jamaica, CMC – Guyana confirmed their place in tomorrow’s final of the Regional Under-19 Championship when they brushed aside minnows Canada by four wickets in their final round game here yesterday.
Entering the contest on top of the standings, Guyana was quick to impose their superiority on the Canadians with incisive bowling, and in the end chased an uncomplicated 139 for victory at Manchester High School.
Keemo Paul led the run chase with an aggressive 51 while Sherfane Rutherford struck a cameo unbeaten 30 and Balchand Baldeo, 30.
Opting to bat first, Canada started well when Emmanuel David (16) and Thursaanth Anantharajah (9) put on 29 off 24 balls for the first wicket.
David was the main aggressor, facing 11 balls and counting three fours, but was first to fall, and his dismissal saw Canada slide to 89 for seven in the 20th over.
The damage was done mainly by Ronaldo Alimohamed who finished with three for 25. He received support from fast bowlers Rutherford (2-16) and Paul (2-21), along with off-spinner Baldeo (2-26).
Vice-captain Miraj Patel resisted with a top score of 33 batting at number nine, putting on 26 runs for the eighth wicket with Abdul Haseeb (5) and 23 for the ninth wicket with Shlok Patel (2).
Guyana started their run chase shakily, stumbling to 19 for two in the fifth over after spinner Harsha Thaker, who finished with four for 38, removed both openers cheaply.
However, Paul and Baldeo pulled the innings around in a 73-run, third wicket stand that snuffed the life out of the Canadian attack.
Paul lashed four fours and three sixes off a mere 38 balls while Baldeo was patient in his 56-ball innings which included four fours.
Guyana lost three quick wickets for 12 runs in the space of 27 balls to slip to 104 for five in the 22nd but Rutherford settled the contest decisively with a quick-fire knock that required just 21 balls and included three fours and two sixes.
