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Richards’ ton spur Leewards to 184 run win against Canada
Islanders take two bonus points to take early series lead
By Sean Devers
Man-of-the-Match Austin Richards fashioned a magnificent 141 to lead the Leeward Islands to an emphatic 184-run victory against Canada at Everest yesterday in the opening round of the President’s Cup regional One-Day cricket tournament in Guyana.
The left-handed Richards struck 14 fours and five sixes in his pugnacious 113-ball 141 as the Leewards reached 367-4 off their allotted 50 overs after they were asked to bat on a flat track in sultry conditions.
Canada were then restricted to 183-7 off 50 overs; falling one run short of denying the Islanders an extra bonus point in the loop-sided contest.
Watched by a handful of spectators, the 24-year-old Richards dominated a 59-run opening stand with West Indies under-19 player Keiron Powell (22) before Powell was removed by Baidwan in the 13th over.
Skipper Runako Morton joined the Antiguan Richards and they put together 174 for the second wicket in 23 overs on the fast outfield before Richards was bowled by Jethi at 233-2 when nine short of joining Dawnley Joseph and Clayton Lambert as the only batsmen to reach 150 in the 32-year history of regional one-day cricket.
Morton, who hails from Nevis but now lives with his Trinidadian wife in Trinidad, batted intelligently and played an array of delightful shots before he was stumped by Jethi (2-50) at 249-3 with 12 overs to go in the innings.
Omari Banks then launched a vicious attack on the tired looking Canada bowling attack to finish unbeaten on 75 with eight fours and three sixes.
Tonito Willett (23) fell with three overs to go while Wilden Cornwall finished undefeated on 19 as the North Americans, in their third regional one-day competition, looked totally outclassed.
Without their leading batsman Rizwan Cheema who could not make the trip due to travel document problems, Canada never threatened the Leewards’ total after Sandeep Jyoti was bowled by Chad Hampson for a duck with just two runs on the board.
Asif Mulla never looked comfortable against the pacers, lofted off-spinner Banks to deep mid wicket at 57-2 after struggling for 13 while Guyana born Abdool Samad (0) and Surkari (1) fell in the space of two runs to leave Canada, who played in the last World Cup, struggling on the ropes at 60-4.
Dhaniram, who played first class cricket for Guyana, looked the most composed of the batsmen although Pakistani born Qaiser Ali, who retired hurt on 41 and returned with runner, top scored with 52 from 82 balls with six fours.
Dhaniram eventually drove Cornwall to extra cover after hitting six fours in his 61-ball 44 as Canada slumped to 133-7 against a Leeward Islands team which looked very sharp in the field.
Baidwan (38*) and Bhatti (11*) almost denied the Leewards an extra bonus point with their unfinished 50 run eighth wicket partnership as Banks finished with 2-24 from 10 overs although one of his overs cost 12 runs.
The Leewards, hunting their fifth title at this level and first in 11 years, play Trinidad and Tobago in their second match today at Bourda while Canada’s next game is also against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday at Uitvlugt.
FoW: 2,57, 58, 60, 95, 127, 133,
Bowling: Tonge 10-3-36-1, Hampson
7-0-32-1, Cornwall 7-0-40-1, Willett
10-2-27-1, Banks 10-3-24-2, Athanaze
4-0-16-1, Martin 2-0-6-0
Result: Leeward Islands won by 184 runs
Points: L/Wards 6, Canada 0
Man-of-the-Match: Austin Richards Jnr.
Austin Richards
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