By Charwayne Walker
Since the Gillette Cup Regional One-Day tournament commenced in 1976, only two bowlers have the distinct honour of capturing seven wickets in a match.
First to achieve feat was Antiguan Hamesh Anthony who took 7 for 15 against Barbados in the Shell Sandals Finals in 1995. Barbadian left-hand pacer Pedro Collins eclipsed Anthony’s record when he blew away the West Indies Under 19 side with 7 for 12 at the Blairmont Community Development Center ground in 2007.
The first time a Guyanese bowler captured six wickets in a Regional One-Day match was October 2010 when leg spinner Devendra Bishoo mesmerized Barbados with 6 for 36 from 10 overs at Sabrina Park Kingston, Jamaica.
This performance eight years on is still the best by a Guyanese at the Regional One-Day level.
The first Guyanese bowler to capture a five-wicket haul at the Regional One-Day level was Demerara Cricket Club’s William White. White took 5 for 36 from 10 overs against Trinidad and Tobago at the Queen’s Park Oval in 1982.
Georgetown Cricket Club’s fast medium bowler Garfield Charles joined the list when he destroyed Jamaica with 5 for 18 from eight overs in the Geddes Grant/Harrison Line final at Bourda in 1983.
DCC’s Roger Harper 5 for 37 from 10 overs condemned Trinidad and Tobago to defeat at Enmore in 1993 while GCC’s Ramnaresh Sarwan destroyed Bermuda with 5 for 10 from five overs in 1998 at the Hampton Court, Essequibo. GCC’s Neil McGarrell sent the Windward Islands packing with 5 for 20 from nine overs at Alpart Sports Club Jamaica in 1999 while Port Mourant’s Mahendra Nagamootoo 5 for 23 from 10 overs gave the Cayman Islands no chance in 2000 at The Valley in Anguilla.
Albion’s Veerasammy Permaul took 5 for 26 from 7.2 overs against Jamaica at Alpart Sports Club, 2007 while the last Guyanese to take a five wicket haul in a regional One-Day match is Keemo Paul who took 5 for 75 against the Leeward Islands in February, 2018 in Antigua.
