Successful Guyana Under-19 cricket team returns home after defence of one-day title

Aug 23, 2016 Sports

The Guyana Under-19 cricket team returned home yesterday and were met by

Members of the victorious Guyana U19 team shortly after arriving at the Eugene F. Correira International airport, Ogle with Director of Sport Christopher Jones (3rd from left) and officials of the GCB. (Zaheer Mohamed photo)

Guyana Cricket Board president Drubahadur, Marketing Manager Raj Singh, competitions committee chairman Colin Europe, chairman of the GCB senior selection panel Rayon Griffith and Director of Sport Christopher Jones when they arrived at the Eugene Correira International Airport at Ogle. Drubahadur said it is heartening to see the team defending the title after a below par performance in the three-day format, adding that the entire country is proud of them. Jones stated they are very excited that Guyana successfully defended their crown and urged them to remain committed, while Singh stated that he is looking forward to see the players in the upcoming Jaguars three-day League.
Captain Travis Persaud told the media that although they didn’t perform to their best in the three-day, he was confident they would have successfully defended their 50-over title and congratulated his team mates and management team. Persaud, who missed the final due to an injury, explained that the senior players really stepped up and singled out Kemo Paul, who apart from being the MVP, took the most wickets in the tournament and Joshua Persaud for being wicket-keeper with the most dismissals.
Paul stated that this defending of the 50-over title was not as easy as it seems but the players came together well after a disappointing performance in the three-day. He added that he is looking forward to the Jaguars league which starts on Friday.
Guyana were crowned one-day champions of the Regional Under-19 Championship for the third straight year Sunday, when they easily brushed aside Windward Islands by five wickets in the final at Arnos Vale Stadium.

Bhaskar Yadram … steered Guyana to victory with an unbeaten 41.

Chasing 143, the Guyanese eased to victory with eight overs remaining, to build on recent successes in Jamaica last year and in Georgetown two years ago. Middle order batsman Bhaskar Yadram top-scored with an unbeaten 41, Raymond Perez got 24, Sherfane Rutherford chipped in with 21 and Keemo Paul 20. Jonathon Taylor (2-16) and left-arm spinner Alick Athanaze (2-27) finished with two wickets apiece.
Earlier, the Windwards were disappointingly bowled out for 142 off 42.2 overs, after they were undermined by West Indies Under-19 seamer Paul (3-16), off-spinner Looknauth Chinkoo (3-32) and Rutherford (2-23).
Johnel Eugene top-scored with 42 and opener Emmanuel Stewart chipped in with 22, but the Windwards’ much vaunted batting machine found itself limited.
Sent in, the Windwards started poorly, recovered slightly but were then undone by a middle order slump to lose their way.
Anil Matthew fell without scoring to the second ball he faced in the opening over with three runs on the board and his partner Johann Jeremiah followed in the fifth over for eight to leave the score on 17 for two, with Paul claiming both scalps.
Stewart struck two fours in a 35-ball knock in adding 34 for the second wicket with Athanaze who made 18. But when both fell in the 15th over, a collapse ensued as four wickets tumbled for 36 runs to leave the side on 87 for six in the 28th over.
Eugene then came to his side’s rescue, striking two fours and a six in his 60-ball knock, while also adding 34 for the seventh wicket with Kassim Peltier (12).
In reply, Guyana got a decent start of 38 from Rutherford and Ronaldo Renee (7) before losing both in successive overs to stumble.
However, Perez and Paul, who was voted the MVP, put on 35 for the third wicket to bolster the innings before Yadram took control to see Guyana home.
Yadram, a right-hander, faced 72 balls and counted five fours, and his 25-run fifth wicket stand with Joshua Persaud (13) and unbroken 26-run, sixth wicket partnership with Ronaldo Alimohamed (4 not out), calmed the nerves for Guyana. (CMC)