By Charwayne Walker
When young Essequibo fast medium all-rounder Keemo Paul destroyed the Windward Islands on debut in April earlier this year at the Providence National Stadium with match figures of 9 for 64, the former West Indies U19 vice-captain had eclipsed the previous record by a Guyanese fast or medium fast bowler at the Regional First Class Level.
Paul’s magnificent performance bettered the previous best of 9 for 75 which was achieved by Berbice fast bowler Leslaine Lambert against Trinidad and Tobago at the Albion Sports Complex Ground in February of 1983.
Inspired by that debut performance against the Windwards, Paul continued his Providence show with another nine-wicket match haul against the Barbados Pride in the just concluded fifth round of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional four day competition.
Just like the Windward Islands in April, The Barbados Pride in December also had no answers for his deadly in swinging yorkers and clever movement off the seam.
His match haul of 9 for 122 made him the only Guyanese fast or medium fast bowler with two nine-wicket match hauls at the Regional First Class Level.
Please remember this wunderkind is only 19-years-old.
The first Guyanese to achieve this feat since 1961 was the late Charlie Stayers, who had match figures of 9 for 94 versus Barbados at Bourda in October 1961. Stayers took 6 for 63 and 3 for 31. Leslaine Lambert emulated Stayers when he destroyed Trinidad and Tobago with match figures of 9 for 75 in February 1983 at Albion Sports Complex, Lambert took 7 for 59 and 2 for 16.
Ten years later 1993, a pacer from Malteenoes by the name of Barrington St. Aubyn Browne took 4 for 33 and 5 for 45 match figures of 9 for 77 which condemned Jamaica to a six wicket defeat at Bourda. Four years later 1997, Reon Dane King was the talk of Kingston, the lanky GCC’s pacer had Jamaica on the ropes with match figures of 9 for 103. King took 4 for 47 and 5 for 56, a performance that earned him the Man of the Match in that drawn encounter.
