Regional U-19 three-day cricket …Guyana struggle to 4-Wkt win against Windwards

Jul 29, 2014 Sports

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After Sankar grabs 5-53

By Sean Devers
On a sunlit day at the Everest ground on Camp Road, Guyana registered their first win in this year’s Regional under-19 three-day cricket competition with a four-wicket win against the Windward Islands yesterday.

The match was done and dusted six minutes before Tea and all over with more than a session to spare on a last day track on which leg-spinner Steven Sankar (5-53) and Vice-Captain Sharaz Ramcharran (3-44) combined to take eight wickets with their spin for the hosts.
Set just 62 to win outright the Guyanese made the run chase as hard as being asked to fetch water with a basket and struggled to 64-6 from 15 overs to eventually notch the win. Only Skipper Brian Sattaur, who made a shot-filled 31 before he threw his wicket away for the second time in the match with impetuous shot selection, offered any form of resistance with the bat.
The Windwards were gifted, what could be crucial bonus points, as Sherman Lewis (2-23), Ryan John (2-18) and Craig Phillip (1-21), all fast bowlers, threatened to dismantle the Guyana batting.
Scores: W/Wards (139 & 165):  Guy (243 & 64-6)
The Windwards resumed the day on 79-4, still 25 runs away from making Guyana bat again and Anson Latchman was run out at 81-5 in the day’s first over before he had added to his overnight 12.
The 18-year-old Sankar then bowled Skipper Ronald Cato after he stroked five fours in a well put together 46 from 110 balls and 107 minutes to leave the score on 122-6.
Six runs later Doran Edward was bowled by Sankar for a duck before John (21) and Deron Hypolite (20) briefly halted the slide with a 37-run eight stand to take the score to 151-8 when John was removed by Ramcharran who also got rid Sherman Lewis (2) four runs later.
By lunch the Windwards, who upset Trinidad & Tobago in the first round, were holding on for dear life at 159-9, enjoying a slim lead of 55 runs with two entire sessions remaining.
The post Lunch session was delayed by 13 minutes due to late arrival of food for the two official scorers but Sankar, who bowled fewer bad balls yesterday, quickly wrapped up the innings by having the left-handed Hypolite caught at short-leg to polish off the Windwards innings shortly after the resumption.
Guyana lost first innings centurion Shemron Hetymer for a 10-ball duck as the South Americans slipped to 3-1.  Sattaur joined Chanderpaul and tore into the bowlers with brute, force and a murderous intent.
The East Coast left-hander, who plays for DCC in the City, hammered Lewis for a pugnacious four and followed it up with a huge six two balls later. The burly batsman then greeted Craig Phillip with a couple of scorching boundaries before, with victory 14 runs away, Chanderpaul, who batted for 49 minutes for 10, was removed by Lewis to spark a dramatic collapse.
Sattaur again gave his wicket away with an irresponsible drive to cover after facing 32 balls in his 47 minute innings with four fours and a six, to leave his team on 48-3.
It was soon 50-5 when Kemo Paul (1) was LBW to John and Ramcharran was run out for a duck. Balchand Baldeo was then caught behind off Lewis six runs later as the hosts slumped to 56-6.
Askay Homraj, who finished the contest with a four, was unbeaten on nine, while Kemol Savory was on one, as the Islanders made Guyana, who drew with the Leewards in the first round, work harder and longer than they anticipated for the win.
Coach Adrian Amsterdam lamented what he described as the reckless batting of Guyana as they chased down a victory target with an ultra aggressive approach.
“We underestimated the small score set by the visitors and I feel the top order tried to score too quickly and played several reckless shots. We should have won by 10 wickets with the quality of our openers, who both played First-Class cricket. I am very disappointed in the manner, Shemron (Hetymer) who got a hundred in the first innings, and the Skipper (Brian Sattuar) gave away their wickets,” Amsterdam, a former Berbice left-handed batsman, pointed out.
Amsterdam is also not satisfied with the running between the wickets and plans to address this deficiency at today’s practice session at Providence.
Amsterdam said there were positives to be taken from this game. “We improved in both our bowling and batting here and of course taking full points is a positive too. I am however a bit disappointed in the (fewer) number of three-day matches this year since I think the competition is too short to really develop the techniques of the players at a time when almost everything is about t20 cricket,” Amsterdam concluded.
Guyana face Trinidad & Tobago at Bourda in the third and final round of the three-day tournament from Wednesday, while the Windwards take on defending champions Jamaica at the National Stadium.

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