Deonarine (94) moves closer to Windies recall

Mar 16, 2009 Sports

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Fudadin undefeated on 51 as Guyana reach 254-5

 

By Sean Devers in Albion

 

Under a clear blue sky in the agriculture setting of Corentyne, Narsingh Deonarine yesterday moved a step closer to a West Indies re-call with another accomplished batting display in sultry conditions on a graveyard dead Albion pitch before he threw away what would have been his third ton for the season.

The 25-year-old left-hander stroked 10 fours in his entertaining 208-ball and 256-minute innings of 94 and took his run tally this season to 863 from 16 innings as Guyana reached 254-5 against the Leeward Islands when bad light stopped play on the third day of their rain affected WICB four-day cricket match.

Deonarine spoiled his splendid work, when he was six short of his seventh first-class hundred and sixth at regional level, with a reckless pull shot to deep forward square-leg off the last ball of the day after he had refused the offer for bad light from the umpires the ball before.

The gifted Berbician, who is now 127 runs away from becoming the first batsman ever to score 1000 runs in a regional first-class season, opted to try and get his ton yesterday instead of waiting until today and would be very disappointed with his poor shot selection off a Wilden Cornwall short ball following being dropped by the Keeper on 78, top-edging a pull off Tonito Willett. The ball went ‘miles’ into the air and both the Keeper and bowler converged for the skied catch with the score on 216-4.      

When bad light stopped play at 17:50hrs former West Indies youth batsman Assad Fudadin had posted his second fifty in only his third game of the season and his unbeaten 51 had lasted 118 minutes, 100 balls with six fours and a straight six off Skipper Steve Liburd. Fudadin added 92 for the fifth wicket with Deonarine. 

Earlier, the game eventually commenced at 10:30hrs yesterday after the entire first two days were washed out and Guyana, who surprisingly omitted in-form batsman Royston Crandon from their starting eleven after he had missed the last game due to influenza, won the toss and elected to bat on a flat pitch and slow outfield.    

Apart from Crandon who has four fifties this season, pacer Trevon Garraway was also left out as Guyana played an unchanged team from the one which took first innings points from CCC in their last match.

The hosts were given a solid 72-run opening stand between Sewnarine Chattergoon and Chris Barnwell after the Western and part of the North/Eastern Boundaries were ‘pulled in’ due to the soft outfield.

The Guyana openers capitalized on the short Western square boundary before the right-handed Barnwell played down the wrong line to a ball from leg- spinner Anthony Martin which did not turn and was leg before for 35 from 99 balls, 115 minutes with six fours.

Without addition to the score, Chattergoon missed a sweep at off-spinner Justin Athanaze and was leg before for 32 from 86 balls, 119 minutes with six fours.

Deonarine, the competition’s leading run scorer, joined fellow left-hander Leon Johnson and the pair saw Guyana to lunch at 94-2 with Deonarine on 17 and Johnson on five. After the interval, which was taken at 13:00hrs, Deonarine audaciously square-drove Martin for four to pass 800 runs for the season.

When looking set for a big score Johnson impetuously pulled a short ball from medium pacer Tonito Willett to mid-wicket to leave Guyana on 135-3. Johnson’s 22 lasted 74 balls, 101 minutes and included two boundaries and his partnership with Deonarine was worth 63 runs.

The elegant Deonarine, who already has two centuries this season, reached 50 for the sixth time this year with his sixth boundary and his 25th first-class half-century came from 118 balls and 131 minutes.

 

Skipper Travis Dowlin

was then trapped leg before to Athanaze for 13 as Guyana, still hunting their first win for the season in their ninth game, slipped to 162-4.

Fudadin (5) and Deonarine (53) were the undefeated batsmen at tea with the host on 166-4.

Watched by a spattering of spectators at the region’s first One-Day International cricket venue, Deonarine, who played the last of his four Tests in Sri Lanka four years ago, looked in full flow while Fudadin, who was unlucky to be given caught behind in his last innings for 93, overcame a scratchy start to play an array of scintillating off-side drives. 

Deonarine was given a reprieve on 78 when his top edged pull off Willett was dropped by the Keeper in the third over with the second new ball at 216-4 as both Willett and Devon Thomas went for the skier.

Fudadin grew in confidence as his innings increased and he reached his half-century from 98 balls, 111 minutes with six fours and a six.

Play on the final day today is scheduled to commence at 09:30hrs.

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