Regional U17 tourney...Guyana tackle Barbados in final round today

Regional U17 tourney…Guyana tackle Barbados in final round today

Jul 18, 2017 Sports

By Zaheer Mohamed in Trinidad and Tobago
In association with V Net Communications,
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Following their 82-run victory over Jamaica in their previous game, Guyana will take on Barbados in the final round of the regional U17 50-over tournament today at Gilbert Park.
The Guyanese have won two and lost two games, while Barbados won two and lost one with one being rained out. Host nation Trinidad and Tobago have three victories and one loss and are leading the points table, while Leeward and Windward Islands have two wins each and Jamaica is yet to win a game on tour.
The tournament is still open with five teams, except Jamaica, still in contention, but a win will guarantee Trinidad and Tobago the title, but if they lose to the Leeward Islands at the National Cricket Centre, then either Guyana, Barbados, Windward or Leeward Islands can take home the crown.
Guyana will have to beat Barbados with bonus points and hope that Leeward Islands and Jamaica triumph, for them to take the title.
The Guyanese have been below par so far, despite their win against Jamaica, nevertheless there are some still some positives. Left arm spinner Kevin Umroa and Kevlon Anderson are two of the three bowlers with five-wicket hauls in the tournament so far with Sameer Ali of Trinidad and Tobago being the other.
Anderson stood out with the bat as well, notching a half century against Jamaica, while Sachin Singh, who has struggled to find form on tour, is the only other Guyanese with a fifty. Much was expected of the attacking Alex Algoo, but he seems to be coming into his own with a shot-filled 42 versus Jamaica.
He is one of the three players from this team selected for the regional U19 tournament in St. Kitts and must adapt quickly to the pitches outside of Guyana, that tend to have more bounce. Sachin Singh is in his second year at this level, but has not been his usual self, but faced 118 balls for his first fifty of the tournament against the Jamaicans. He has been selected to lead the West Indies U16 team to England later this year. Orlando Jailall is yet to bat in the tournament and while the Guyanese fast bowlers hasn’t yet got a decent opportunity to run in at the opposition. In fact, Guyana have been dependent on spinners to do the bulk of the bowling, not only because of rain or the opposition’s weakness to spinners, but mainly due to their batsmen not putting enough runs on the board. So the West Indies selectors haven’t got an opportunity to see much fast bowling in the competition.
Although most of the teams have got a number of spinners and largely depend on them to win games, their batsmen have found it difficult to negotiate slow bowling. Umora and Anderson are among the leading wicket takers so far, while Kevin Christian has done well behind the stumps, but needs to come good with the bat.
Points Standing
T&T 18.7
Barbados 14.3
Windward Islands 13.5
Leeward Island 12.4
Guyana 12.3
Jamaica 0.3