Skipper Royston Crandon and batsman Seon Hetmyer yesterday helped their team New Amsterdam/Canje/Lower Corentyne stage a daring come-from-behind 121-run win over Upper Corentyne in the final of the CGI/Local Franchise League limited overs tournament at the Albion Community Center ground.
After being 31 for 5 batting first, a result of pacer Clinton Pestano’s opening burst of 4-53, New Amsterdam/Canje/Lower Corentyne recovered to post 255 all out from 50 overs.
Hetmyer, the older brother of Guyana Jaguars and West Indies U19 opener Shimron, grafted an unbeaten 100 off 137 balls with four fours and two sixes.
Crandon, the former West Indies ODI player, pumped four fours and three sixes in his 94-ball 75. The two shared a crucial 131-run partnership with Hetmyer.
The off-spinner then shouldered the responsibility and bowled his team to an emphatic win as he ended with figures of 6 for 26 from 8.3 overs.
Upper Corentyne’s batsmen never got going during the chase and as a result, were bowled out for a measly 134 in 32.3 overs with Joshua Ramsammy being the top scorer with 25.
Sharaz Ramcharran (03) was the first to go for Upper Corentyne during the chase, caught behind by wicket-keeper Akeem Hinds off senior National pacer Raun Johnson who took two wickets.
Jason Sinclair (11), who came to the wicket with Ramcharran’s dismissal, got off the mark with a text book on-drive which he followed up with a classy straight-drive, both off Johnson. Carelessness stepped in and Sinclair paid the price with his wicket when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Eugene Lafleur.
The 50 for Upper Corentyne came up in the 13th over but some teamwork from the brothers Eugene the catcher and Joemal the bowler, accounted for the dismissal of Upper Corentyne skipper and opener Lloydel Lewis for a 42-ball 15.
Jonathan Foo (15) played a loose drive and was caught by Gajanand Singh who took a spectacular diving catch in first slip off Romario Shepherd while Assad Fudadin was bowled behind his legs by Crandon for six as Upper Corentyne slipped to 71 for 5.
Anthony Bramble (15) smoked the biggest six of the match which sailed over the commentary box into a nearby yard off Veerasammy Permaul but failed to capitalize on his start and was trapped leg before wicket by Crandon.
Rajiv Ivan (09) attempted a sweep but was bowled by the off-spinner who also removed Pestano (09) in the same fashion. Crandon picked up his fifth victim of the match, the top-scorer Ramsammy who played a nothing shot only to miss and be adjudged lbw.
The final wicket to fall was that of Eon Hooper (10) who was caught in the deep off Crandon’s bowling as his teammates rushed towards the bowler to celebrate.
Earlier, New Amsterdam/ Canje/Lower Corentyne found themselves reeling at 31 for 5 after Pestano ripped through the top order with a fiery spell. He accounted for the wickets of Hakeem Hinds (00) and the former National Under-19 batsman Singh (00), who were both caught at slip while Eugene Lafleur (05) hit one four before he was caught behind by Sinclair.
Opener Joemal La Fleur crunched three fours in his 15 but Pestano continued to make inroads and produced a short-pitched delivery which induced a mistimed pull from the batsman who was caught by Hooper at backward point.
Devon Clements (00), was easily caught by Foo off Fudadin (2-32) at slip but Hetymer and Crandon consolidated after the nightmare start and settled in nicely, rotating the strike and striking the odd boundary.
Crandon absorbed some of the pressure and thumped two consecutive sixes off the leg-spinner Shawn Pereira as New Amsterdam/Canje/Lower Corentyne recovered to raise their 100 in the 24th over.
The right-hander struck Ramcharran for a mighty six back over his head to bring up his half-century from 75 balls with three sixes and as many fours while Hetmyer reached his 50 off 87 balls shortly after with four fours.
Crandon was eventually bowled around his legs while Permaul (09) and Kevin Ramdeen (17) were out caught all off Foo’s off-spin (3-46). Shepherd hit a big six in his score of 16 before Hooper had him caught on the ropes by Fudadin.
Hetmyer reached his century in the last over bowled by Fudadin but the opposition skipper removed Johnson (01) with the very last ball of the innings.
At the post match presentation, CGI executive and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Anand Sanasie said that the next leg of the local franchise League will be the T20 version set for next year.
He promised that the T20 round will be more intense and encouraged players to keep training ahead of that specific competition. Sanasie also apologized to the players and fans about the lights which were not used as indicated prior to the finals.
He said that contact was made with Anil Beharry, who is head of the Lights Committee and noted that a list of documents needed to be submitted for use of the lights which cost G$20,000 per hour.
Sanasie explained that the list of requirements were emailed to the board but they were unable to meet the requirements due to time constraints but indicated that he will be looking into the situation.
Nevertheless, he stated that it was good to see such high levels of competition and congratulated both sides for their performances. Chairman of the National selectors Rayon Griffith made special mention of Hetmyer and Crandon while advising the players to remain fit and to prepare for the next leg of the competition.
For their win, New Amsterdam walked away with G$500,000 while the runners up Upper Corentyne received G$300,000.
