Guyana aiming for redemption in TCL Group one-day format

Jul 29, 2008 Sports

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Face Leeward Islands today in opening match

By Sean Devers in Barbados In association with Demerara Power Company, Lifetime Realty &…

Although they were last year’s losing finalist, dethroned three-day champions Guyana is not traditionally known for aggressive cricket and are not among the favorites to claim this year’s TCL Group regional one-day under-19 cricket title.

Guyana begin their one-day campaign with a first round game against the Leeward islands today at the Pine Basin and while they were beaten by 49 runs the last time the two teams met in last year’s one-day series in St Kitts, the attacking second batting approach adopted by the top order in their last three-day game against Trinidad and Tobago has inspired hopes of Guyana being competitive in the limited overs version of the competition.

Royan Fredricks and Trevon Griffith unleashed a brutal attack on the T&T bowlers in a 57-run partnership from just six overs while all of the other batsmen showed refreshing aggression with Seon Hetmyer showing why he was considered the team’s best batsman at the start of the competition by scoring Guyana’s only century in the competition.

If the Guyanese can reproduce that positive mindset today they, without a one-day title since this format was introduced in 1998, can cause a few upsets and even win the title.

Their fielding will also have to be a lot more purposeful than it was in the three-day tournament and if the batsmen can post a total close to 250, the bowlers are quite capable of defending it on what should be a good batting pitch today.

Jeetendra Sookdeo, Skipper Eugene LaFleur, Leon Scott and Keon Joseph are all carrying niggling injuries and Guyana’s final combination will not be decided until this morning as the team aim to redeem itself after failing to win a hat-trick of three-day titles by finishing second to new champions Barbados.

This team comprises a talented bunch of teenagers but inconsistent batting and a lack of mental strength and prolonged concentration under pressure plagued the side throughout the three-day format.

For them to win the one-day series the Coach and Manager will have to get the players to believe in themselves and give the batsmen the license to play their ‘shots’ from ball one.

In Jonathan Foo, Guyana has arguable the tournaments most naturally talented striker of the ball but he will need to overcome his lack of mental fortitude if Guyana are to do well since his explosive style is critical to his team’s success.

Royston Alkins and Dilon Heyliger are capable of being aggressive while Skipper LaFleur is the most level-headed player in the side and along with Hetmyer will need to provide the stability as the others take on the bowlers.

Leon Scott and Totaram Bishun, both members of last year’s team, should not feature too much in the one-day format and pacer Keyron Fraser could play a key role with the genuinely quick Keon Joseph with the white new ball.

LaFleur opened the bowling with his left-arm spin in the last one-day match at this level between the two sides and this is also an option today while Herman Latcha bowled with wonderful control in the three-day tournament and will be relied on to keep things tight with his off-spin today.

Heyliger and Hetmyer will be expected to produce economical overs while Foo’s leg-spin should cause problems for the Islanders once he pitches.

Kieran Powell has been included in the 32-man Stanford 20/20 squad which is preparing to face England on November 1 for US$20 Million and he could be Guyana’s biggest headache if he gets going today with his Chris Gayle like approach.

Like last year, Chesney Hughes should open the batting with Powell and it will be imperative that Guyana strike early if they want to restrict the Leewards to a ‘gettable’ total.

Hughes, who scored 40 and took 4-31 with his left-arm spin against Guyana last year, will again be relied on to produce with both bat and ball while off-spinner Tevin Osbourne is also expected to play a major role today in an attack missing their leading bowler Kelbert Walters due to injury.

Like Guyana and the Windward Islands, the Leewards have never won a one-day title and after finishing last in the three-day competition, will hope for an improved showing in this competition.

If Guyana can get past the Leewards today they will stand a great chance of reaching their second consecutive one-day final since they play a depleted T&T side in their final preliminary round game on Friday. If Sookdeo is passed fit to play today, Scott, Bishun and Alkins could be the men on the bench for Guyana.

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