Adams (4-14), Hemraj (72*) spur Guyana to 1st innings points

Jul 19, 2011 Sports

By Sean Devers at Providence

In sweltering heat at Providence yesterday, Guyana spearheaded by 4-16 from left-arm spinner Anthony Adams and an unbeaten 72 from debutant Chanderpaul Hemraj, took first innings points from the Leeward Islands on the opening day of their three-day first round Regional under-19 cricket encounter.
On a sluggish track the Leewards were bowled out just after Lunch for 107 after they elected to bat as Adams bettered his previous best of 3-90 against Jamaica last year. He got support from West Indies under-19 leg-spinner Amir Khan (3-39) before Guyana, hunting their first title since their 2007 success in St Kitts, finished the day on 151-3 in reply.
Burly Skipper Rahkeem Cornwall, with Leeward Islands Caribbean T20 experience under his belt, hit a pugnacious 38-ball 43 with five fours and two sixes, but only Shaquille Martina (who was born in St Maarten to a Guyanese mother) of the other batsmen reached 15 in a disappointing batting performance.
By the close the Guyanese were leading by 44 with seven wickets in hand as 17-year-old Hemraj and West Indies under-19 left-hander Kwame Crosse (30*) featured in an unfinished 97-run partnership after joining forces at 54-3 when Dominique Rikhi (27) was removed by Larry Audain.
Hemraj, a stylish left-hander, has batted for 189 minutes, faced 147 balls and hit 11 fours in his accomplished innings and his driving off the front was a delight to watch.
Hemraj, a former Guyana 15 player, begins the penultimate day today 28 runs away from joining Hemnarine Chattergoon (128 against host Barbados in 1996) as the Guyanese to score a century on debut at this level.
Hemraj, who got to his fifty from 115 balls, 154 minutes with seven boundaries, is also closing in on becoming the first Guyanese since Trevon Griffith (2009 against Jamaica in Jamaica) to score a three-figure score at this level.
Kevon Boodie seemed unlucky to be given LBW off pacer Cleon Reece at 1-1 while his opening partner Kandasammy Surujnarine (4) was LBW to the first ball from off-spinner Cornwall and Guyana were 22-4 when they began their first innings.
When Rikhi departed the Leewards were fighting back but the free-flowing Hemraj and Crosse who battled through a scratchy start, orchestrated a fine recovery to lead the home team to first innings points.
Earlier, First-Class and West Indies under-19 pacer Ronsford Beaton had Duan Webbe (7) caught behind, while Elijah Peters (7) was run out as the first two Leewards wickets tumbled with the score on 25.
Pacer Clinton Pestano then trapped Akeem Saunders (1) LBW at 27-3 before the powerful Cornwall and Martina revived the position with a 61-run stand with Cornwall entertaining the handful of fans with some big hitting, including two huge sixes off Khan.
But once Khan, one of two First-Class players in the Guyana side, removed both Cornwall and Martina (17) in the space of a run to leave the Islanders on 88-5, two more wickets tumbled at 90 as Adams struck. Rain at 10 minutes before Lunch ended the first session with the Leewards on 90-7.
After the interval, Wasim Mintos (11) became only the third Leewards batsman to reach double figures before he was bowled by Khan and Adams wrapped up the innings as the visitors lost their last seven wickets for 21 runs.
Play on the second day is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs and admission is free.

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