GUYANA LIMP TO THREE-WICKET WIN AGAINST LEEWARDS

Oct 29, 2009 Sports

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A crucial unbroken eight wicket stand of 30 between brothers Royston (24 not out) and Esaun Crandon (17*) helped Guyana limp over the line in their opening clash against the Leeward Islands in this year’s WICB President’s Cup Regional One-day Tournament which was played on Wednesday, at Enmore.
Needing 194 for victory after dismissing the Leewards for 193 in 49.5 overs, the hosts reached 194-7 in 46.1 overs to win by three wickets.
Narsingh Deonarine (51) hit a polished half century which was crafted off 55 balls and contained 6 fours, while additional support came from Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, who stroked a responsible 43 off 74 balls with 2 fours, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul contributed 22 with a solitary boundary.
Off-spinner Justin Athanaze was the most impressive bowler for the visitors, grabbing 3-36 from 10 overs, while medium pacer Lionel Baker picked up 2-32.
Guyana just like the Leewards got off to a disastrous start, losing opener Sewnarine Chattergoon (3) with the total on 9, edging Gavin Tonge behind to wicketkeeper Jamal Hamilton.
Sarwan came next to join Christopher Barnwell, but with the addition of two runs, the stingy Baker induced the latter into a false shot and he held out to Wilden Cornwall stationed at mid-on. He made just 5.
Deonarine, who has been in magical touch this season entered the fray and together with Sarwan mixed solid defence with controlled aggression and they took Guyana over the 100 mark in 27.5 overs with Deonarine bringing up his 50 off 54 balls with 6 fours.
However, when the total reached 105, the left-handed Deonarine became Baker’s second victim, slashing him to Keiran Powell at cover.
Chanderpaul arrived at the crease to rousing applause, but with the addition of a single run attempted to cut a delivery from Athanaze that was to close for the shot and played the ball unto his stumps which left Guyana needing a further 88 runs off a possible 20 overs.
West Indies middle-order batsman Travis Dowlin came next to partner his more illustrious team-mate Chanderpaul and they pushed the total to 134, before Dowlin was given out caught behind for 14 off Athanaze in the 36th over.
Another West Indian player Royston Crandon strolled to the centre and after a somewhat sedate start suddenly opened up by hoisting the medium pace of Tonito Willett over long-on for a huge maximum.
Shortly after, Leewards grabbed the prized wicket of Chanderpaul, trapped in front by Athanaze, leaving Guyana on 153-6 in the 40th over.
One-day debutant Delbert Hicks came to join Crandon and he survived a few anxious moments, before he got off the mark with a sumptuous cover drive off Willett and followed that up with a spanking pull through mid-wicket for another boundary.
However, he returned to the pavilion via the run out route, failing to make his ground attempting a cheeky single to the fielder at short mid-off. He failed to add to the two fours.
Guyana then opted for the batting power play shortly after the advent of Esaun Crandon, still needing 30 runs from 7 overs.
The two set about achieving the required target in positive mode with Royston severe on anything short, while Esaun was more content on picking up the ones and twos and they took Guyana home with 23 balls to spare.
Earlier, Guyana won the toss and invited the opposition to take first strike and they captured their first wicket with the total on 13 when opener Chesney Hughes was caught behind by Hicks off Barnwell’s bowling for 2.
Former West Indies batsman Runako Morton came next to partner Keiran Powell and they crawled to 43, before Morton, who looked sadly out of form was leg before to Royston Crandon for 7 off 18 balls.
Willett came next to join Powell, who was batting beautifully, executing some crisp on-drives off Barnwell and they added a further 18 runs, before Powell’s knock came to an end as he lofted the left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul into the waiting hands of Royston Crandon on the long-off fence. Captain Steve Liburd and Willett added just seven runs when Willett was adjudged leg before to leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo for 10 in the 24th over and the score 68-4. Cornwall and Liburd attacked with fervour and they posted a partnership of 32 runs for the fifth wicket, before the former turned a delivery of his pads and ran down the pitch only to be sent back by his Captain, but he failed to beat the throw of Sarwan. He went for 22.
Athanaze came next, but he never troubled the scorers, going back caught by Permaul off Deonarine for a duck.
A brief rally by the late order put some respectability into the Leewards total.
Liburd was eventually dismissed; bowled Barnwell for 38 off 65 balls with a four and a six, Hamilton and Gavin Tonge added a brisk 30, before the former went for 34 caught Hicks off Bishoo and then Tonge was snapped up by Chattergoon off Crandon for 28 as the Leewards looked to end the innings in a flurry.
Last man Anthony Martin was caught by Dowlin off Crandon without scoring, leaving Baker not out on 2.
Royston Crandon was later named Man-of-the-Match.

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