England ‘A’ claim 1st innings points from reluctant Guyana

Mar 15, 2011 Sports

---

Jonathon Bairstow lofts Guyana Skipper Assad over his head for six to give the England Lion first innings points at Providence yesterday. (Sean Devers photo)

Ramdeen, Joseph included for Barbados match

By Sean Devers at Providence

Reluctant to commence proceedings in a drizzle when the Umpires called play at 15:00hrs, Guyana quickly conceded first innings points to England Lions before their rain-hit fifth round regional four-day game was called off yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
When both Captains agreed to call off the game with just over two hours left in the contest and another heavy downpour approaching, the visitors, who now move to 36 points, had reached 87-3 off just 15 overs replying to Guyana’s paltry 78 all out and the Guyanese never once suggested that they were ‘fired-up’ to get a few more wickets yesterday.
While the Englishmen seemed far more eager than their Guyanese counterparts to get into action, it was another frustrating day for the players as rain drenched the Region’s tenth Test venue until after lunch as the ground staff again fully earned their pay.
The sun never came out but the rain subsided enough for the game to begin in a drizzle although it was clear that the Guyanese were reluctant to play as both Umpires and the English overnight pair were already in the middle with the fielding team not yet on the ground.
With dark clouds hovering overhead and not much play expected, Guyana needed to produce a couple of tight overs with the visitors needing 11 runs for first innings points to end the game in a no-result and give the hosts 4 points.
While Test pacer Brendon Bess took his time to bowl the day’s first ball, the overnight pair of Skipper James Hildreth and Jonathon Bairstow looked ready for the business of knocking off the first innings target as quickly as possible and Bess’ first ball was disdainfully pulled for six by Bairstow who began the final day on 14.
Captain Assad Fudadin, who finished with 2-14, was hit for a nonchalant six over long-off by Bairstow to give the English first innings points. The game was called off with Bairstow on 32 with three fours and a six from 19 balls and Hildreth on six.
While it would have served Guyana’s cause to try and take a few more wickets to lift their confidence going into their next game against CCC from Friday in Barbados, Fudadin agreed to come off and later explained that with heavy rain approaching he did not want to risk injury to his bowlers due to the wet run-up. Fudadin, who decided to open after specialist Shemroy Barrington was dropped for the last two games, explained that he felt there was no longer interest in the match once England raced from 68 to 87 from just 2.1 overs and 13 minutes of play yesterday, resulting in the game ending at 15:13hrs.
Fudadin hinted that he will return to his regular middle order position after two failures at the top and T20 Opener Richard Ramdeen could make his First-Class debut in Barbados. Ramdeen and teenage pacer Keon Joseph, who played his solitary First-Class game against the Windwards in Grenada last year, have been recalled.
Gajanand Singh and Royston Crandon have been dropped from the squad for the next match and Fudadin is hoping for a better batting performance from his team against CCC since the batting has been a major let down this season.
Guyana depart this morning for Barbados with 16 points and must at get at least first innings points there to stay in the race for a semifinal place with two matches to go.
The Guyana Captain and Coach met with match Referee Reon King and the Umpires yesterdays to query what they felt was too heavy rain when the game commenced yesterday.
Umpire Clyde Duncan said there was just a drizzle when the play began and informed that once both Captains agreed to halt a game on the last day ‘at a reasonable time’ with no result achievable, the Umpires can comply with their wishes.
Five minutes after the match was called off the skies again opened but while the Guyanese remained in their dressing room, the entire England squad was summoned to a training session on the ground, emphasizing the difference in the attitudes of the two teams.
English Fast Bowler Chris Woakes, who took a hat-trick in his eighth five-wicket haul at this level, was named Man-of-the-Match. This is the second draw between the two sides in three First-Class matches with the other game (the 2001 Busta four-day semi-finals at Bourda) ending in a seven-wicket win for Guyana.
Guyana’s squad for Friday’s the game against CCC read:- Assad Fudadin (Capt), Richard Ramdeen, Rajendra Chandrika, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Vishaul Singh, Steven Jacobs, Zaheer Mohamed, Derwin Christian, Veerasammy Permaul, Brendon Bess, Keon Joseph, Ronsford Beaton, Carl Moore (Manager) Mark Harper (Coach)

Scoreboard
Guyana 1st Innings 78
England Lions 1st Innings (O/N 68-3)
C Kieswetter c wkp Christian b Bes 25
A Lyth c wkp Christian b Fudadin 18
B Stokes b Fudadin 1
J Bairstow not out 32
J Hildreth not out 6
Extras (w-1, nb-3, lb-1) 4
Total (for 3 wickets off 15 overs) 87

FoW: 43, 47, 53

Bowling: Bess 7-0-42-1, Beaton 2-0-25-0,
Permual 1-0-4-0, Mohamed 1-0-2-0, Fudadin 4-1-14-2

Toss: England Lions
Result: Draw
Points: England Lions 6, Guy 3.

---

---