Guyana concede first innings points to Windwards

Jul 19, 2009 Sports

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Polius again among the wickets as Alkins hits unbeaten 38

By Sean Devers in Jamaica. In Association with Digicel, TCL, Western Union, GSL, Pepsi, Demerara Power Company,
Smalta & Jamaica Pegasus

Skipper Dalton Polius took 4-35 with his off-spin to help the Windward Islands to a 73-run first innings lead against Guyana on the second day of their third round TCL Group Regional Under-19 cricket match at Sabina Park yesterday.
Polius carried his wicket tally to 18 as Guyana, resuming on 71-2 in reply to the Islanders’ 215, lost six wickets for three runs in 28 minutes to crash to 142 all out by lunch despite an unbeaten 38 from Royston Alkins.
By the close the Windwards had extended their lead to 233 going into the final day today by reaching 163-7 with Sunil Ambris leading the fight with 46.
The first session again exposed the declining standard of regional youth cricket as wickets tumbled in a heap mainly due to impetuous shot selection on a good track as Guyana slumped from 77-2 to 80-8.  Alkins, who batted positively in his attractive innings and Totaram Bishun, who resisted for an hour to score 15 added 52 for the 9th wicket to stage a late order recovery before Bishun was run out at 132-9.
The Windwards who began the match in the cellar position four points behind stragglers Guyana, only have themselves to blame for not dismissing the South Americans for under 100 as they floored seven catches in the first session and gave Alkins, who hit 3 fours and 2 sixes in his 57-ball and 118-minute innings, four chances.
In sweltering heat, Guyana quickly lost overnight batsman Trevon Griffith who edged a ball which bounced and turned from Polius to the keeper at 77-3 after the in-form left-hander was dropped in the day’s first over. His 34 lasted 79 balls and included a four and a six.
Griffith’s dismissal triggered a dramatic middle order collapse as Seon Hetmyer who laboured for 47 balls for 8 runs, was trapped leg before to Polius at 78-4, while the enigmatic Jonathon Foo (1) gave his wicket away with an atrocious swipe high to mid-on as Polius struck at 79-5.
Left-arm spinner Kaveem Hodge (2-25) then removed Alex Amsterdam and Skipper Anthony Bramble for ducks as Guyana plunged to 79-7.  It was soon 80-8 when Andre Stoll (1) ran himself out after being dropped off the same delivery as the horrendous Guyana batting this season continued.
Alkins, who dumped Hodge for a six and a four off successive balls to post the Guyana 100, batted positively and rode his luck and deposited left-arm spinner Audy Alexander for a huge six after being put down on the long-on boundary off the previous ball as he and Bishun, who again demonstrated the type of temperament and application missing among the top order batsmen, fought back.
After Bishun was run out, Seon Daniels (7) was caught and bowled by Alexander as he skied a massive slog in the last over before lunch leaving Alkins, in his 2nd year at this level, 12 short of a maiden fifty.
The Windwards began their reply after the interval and hunting quick runs on a slow outfield, lost Atticus Browne (19) caught at short mid-wicket off Alkins’ off-spin at 52-1 while Hubert Joseph (28) was run out 12 runs later just before lunch which was taken with the Windwards on 73-3.
For the first time in the tournament, the Guyanese showed plenty enthusiasm in the last session and led by some tight slow bowling from Amsterdam (2-22) restricted the scoring and picked up 4 wickets to keep their hopes of winning the game today alive.
After Hodge (11) was leg before to Daniels at 83-3, Ambis, dropped twice in 2 balls off Daniels at 91-4, played an array of attacking shots including consecutive cover drives off Daniels which reached the ropes like a bullet.
Polius fell for a duck at 88-4 to give left-armer Bishun his 15th scalp in the competition, but Rudolph Paul (25) offered support to Ambis as the Guyanese attack badly lacked consistency and another specialist spinner.
Amsterdam, bowling flat and straight to ‘tie up’ one end, removed both Ambis who hit 8 fours in his 64-ball 46 and Paul to leave the Windwards on 153-6.  Marvin Small (15) fell to leg-spinner Foo just before the close as the Windwards looked to build a big enough lead to try and win the match today.
With the lead closing in on 250 and Guyana having reached 200 once in the competition so far, a lot will depend on how quickly Guyana can dismiss the opposition today and how well Griffith and Foo (their two main attacking stroke-players) approach their innings on a last day track which Polius will be keen to take advantage of.
Guyana Coach Hubern Evans said he was very disappointed with the Guyana batting yesterday and feels many of the players seem to lack the desire to work hard and the pride of representing their country.
“We will have to try and get the 3 wickets in about half hour tomorrow (today) and then go all out for the runs. We have to try and win this game if we want to stay in contention of doing well in the 3-day competition and we would have to lose going for a win since a draw will put us nowhere since it will leave us with just 7 points from 3 matches,” Evans said.
Daniels was off of the field for most of the last session yesterday suffering from cramps and headache and many of the players are already being to feel the fatigue of the ‘tight’ schedule in very hot conditions here.
“I am not seeing the type of fight and commitment associated with Guyana Under-19 teams which have dominated this competition in the past and when you look at the competition in general the (low) standard is a worry if these are the players we (West Indies) will have to turn to in the near future. Our guys have the talent but I am not sure they are as mentally equipped as they should be at this level,” Manager Alvin Johnson said.
The attitude of Griffith, Bishun and Anthony Adams (who is yet to play a game) have been exemplary so far while Alkins and Stoll ‘stepped up’ in the field yesterday but the players have generally looked ‘flat’ and the shocking shot selection of Foo, who is in his 6th year as a national youth players continue to be a cause for major concern as Guyana aims to end this round away from the cellar position.

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