– Van Lange named captain of Guyana U17 squad
In a match shortened by rain, Afraz Budhoo’s XI won the second Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U17 Trial Match yesterday at the Meten-Meer-Zorg Community Ground, West Coast Demerara.
Having already won the first match on Sunday, overnight rain threatened to curtail yesterday’s game but brilliant sunshine during the morning saw the game reduced to 35 overs which Budhoo’s XI won by one wicket.
In a low scoring encounter, Parmeshwar Ram’s XI batted first and limped to 105/6 from their 35 overs with Vickash Wilkinson (31) and Shamar Apple (22) getting starts but failing to kick on.
Bowling for Budhoo’s XI, Darwin Joseph, Aston Simmons, Jayden Dowlin, Navendra Sankar, Justin Doobay, Munesh Outar all claimed a wicket apiece.
In reply, Budhoo’s XI scraped their way to a one wicket win in the 35th and final over of the innings. Despite getting the required total, Budhoo’s XI were allowed to bat out the 35th over and coincidentally, the last wicket fell off the last
delivery of the innings.
Thierry Henry with 25 and Devon Walton with 22 were the top scorers for the winners. Meanwhile, Danesh Persaud (2/8) and Marcel Nandu (2/9) led a concerted effort for Ram’s XI to make a game out of the low scoring run chase. They were supported by Arun Gainda, Jathniel Nurse, Udesh Seetaram and Nicholas Lovell who all took a wicket each.
The trial matches became necessary after rain washed out all of the GCB U17 Inter County matches except one. The matches on Sunday and yesterday afforded the selectors a chance to pick the best possible squad based on performances during the two matches at Meten Meer Zorg.
Meanwhile, hardhitting all-rounder Jonathan Van Lange who is currently with the Guyana U19 team, has been named captain of the U17 team. Budhoo has been named as his deputy for the U17 tournament which begins in Trinidad and Tobago on August 11.
The team is as follows: Rampersaud Ramnauth, Vikash Wilkinson, Parmeshwar Ram, Udesh Seetaram, Johnathan Van Lange (Captain), Afraz Ali Budhoo (Vice-captain), Emmanuel Lewis, Adrian Hetmyer, Romario Ramdehol, Riyad Latiff, Golcharran Chulai, Navindra Sankar, Romesh Bharrat, Devon Wharton, Darwin Joseph.
Manager- Neil Rudder
Head Coach – Ameer Rahaman
Reserves- Dhanesh Persaud, Thierry Henry, Arun Gainda, Jathniel Nurse, Jayden Dowlin and Micah Amsterdam.
