Round Three of Regional 4-day cricket starts today

Feb 18, 2011 Sports

Guyana, Windward battle to stay in title race

By Sean Devers in St Vincent in association with Digicel & Queensway
At a venue where Guyana dismissed the Windward Islands for their lowest First Class total (54) in 1998, the South Americans battle the Islanders from today in the third round of the Regional Four-Day cricket tournament with both teams on seven points.
On what is expected to be a flat Arnos Vale track, both teams are without their premier batsmen and a win here is crucial to keep their hopes of championships honors alive.
Guyana has beaten the Windward’s 13 times in 30 matches at this level but their last victory was in 2003 at Albion while the Islanders’ last of their 4 wins against Guyana was achieved in Grenada two years ago when Devon Smith scored 212.
While Guyana won the last of their six titles 13 years ago, the Windward’s, who began playing as a separate team from the Combined Islands in 1980, is the only Regional team without a first class title.
Defeat against CCC after leading on first innings and saved by the rain from another against Jamaica does not inspire confidence of the Windwards claiming their first title this season.
Skipper Daren Sammy and Smith are with the West Indies World Cup team and a lot depends on their other West Indies batsman Andre Fletcher if they are to get big totals.
The Guyanese, whose last match against the Windward’s ended in a draw in Grenada last year when Smith just missed another double century, are without Test batsmen Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, the injured Narsingh Deonarine and Sewnarine Chattergoon and Travis Dowlin who has been dropped.
Openers Shemroy Barrington and Rajendra Chandrika looked good against Jamaica but like Leon Johnson, Skipper Assad Fudadin and Derwin Christian wasted good starts as Guyana lost outright after taking first innings points.
Guyana had to settle for three points from their rain ruined second round game at Bourda and the left-handed pair of Johnson and Fudadin must convert fifties into their first tons at this level if they hope to remain on the regional selector’s radar. Royston Crandon and Christian are the only players in the side with a First-Class century and they must also ‘step up’ in the absence of the senior Guyana batsmen.
Test pacer Brendon Bess bowled well in Jamaica for his maiden five-wicket haul and along with the experienced Esuan Crandon will hope for early success with the new ball here. Spinners Davendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul could do the bulk of the bowling if the Windwards bat well.
Skipper Liam Sebastien, whose father is the team’s manager and one of only four Windwards batsmen to score First-Class double hundreds, will need to support Fletcher with the bat while Tyrone Theophille, Johnson Charles and Wicket Keeper Lindon James will also be asked to contribute with the bat for the home team.
Nelon Pascal is quick and along with Kenroy Peters and Mervin Matthew the Windwards have a good pace attack while without suspended off-spinner Shane Shillingford, Sebastien and Gary Mathurin could do the bulk of the spin bowling.
The Guyanese arrived in St Vincent on Tuesday and Coach Mark Harper feels the team is mentally prepared for today’s clash while Skipper Fudadin says that once the batsmen can put a good total on the board he is confident his bowlers will do well against batsmen prone to impetuous shot-selection especially against spin bowling.
The match is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs and live ball-by-ball Radio commentary will be broadcast from St Vincent. The Umpires are Vincentian Goaland Greaves and Trinidadian Joel Wilson.
Teams: Guyana:- Assad Fudadin (Captain) , Rajendra Chandrika, Steven Jacobs , Shemroy Barrington, Vishaul Singh, Leon Johnson, Royston Crandon, Derwin Christian, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Esaun Crandon, Ronsford Beaton, Brendon Bess.
Windward Islands:- Liam Sebastien (Captain), Lindon James, Mervin Matthews, Delorn Johnson, Tyrone Theophille, Donwell Hector, Johnson Charles, Kenroy Peters, Gary Mathurin, Keron Cottoy, Keddy Lesporis, Andre Fletcher, Nelon Pascal

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