Guyana and Windies “B” draw after frenetic finish
Stabroek News
February 18, 2003
CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. Virgin Islands, CMC - Guyana and West Indies “B” produced a frenetic finish as their third round Carib Beer 2003 Cricket Series match ended in a draw at the Paul Joseph Stadium yesterday. After the West Indies “B” team frustrated the Guyanese by protracting their second innings to a fighting 339 all out, Guyana, dashing for a winning target of 120 off 12 overs, ended on 106 for nine as the game hung in the balance in the closing moments. Guyana, the reigning International Shield champions, picked up six points for the first innings advantage to move to 24 points, slipping from second to third in the standings, behind leaders Barbados (30) and Trinidad and Tobago (27).
Seepage under the covers — after overnight and early morning rain — prevented play before lunch and the West Indies “development” side played positively to move their overnight 138 for three to 263 for five in the post-lunch session. Narsingh Deonarine, who captained the West Indies team to the 2002 World Youth (Under-19) Cup, moved his overnight score of 21 to 64, smashing four fours and three sixes — his third six, a spectacular pull over mid-wicket off pacer Rayon Griffith. He brought up his 50 with an extra-cover drove off left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell that also wiped off the 220 run deficit as the West Indies “B” side dragged themselves from the jaws of defeat. Aneil Kanhai (8) gave a return catch to captain McGarrell to be first out for the day and Deonarine engaged in an 83-run fifth-wicket stand with Gregory Mahabir before he was caught at wide mid-off by McGarrell off Griffith. Mahabir (71) flourished in the afternoon and with Carlton Baugh (50) added a further 69 runs for the sixth wicket. Spinners McGarrell (5-105) and Mahendra Nagamootoo (2-107) wrapped up the tail to set up the frenzied finish as the Guyanese took on the challenge of scoring at 10 runs per over late in the session to snatch a win. Guyana lost Lennox Cush (3) early but had an otherwise steady start to reach 40 for one, when Sewnarine Chattergoon was run out for 19. Krishna Arjune belted a top-score of 43 but Guyana suffered a dreadful middle-order collapse as they went from 81 for two to 98 for eight. Homchand Pooran (17) was the only other player to reach double figures and after the ninth wicket fell at 105 with seven balls remaining, injured
Azeemul Haniff and fast bowler Reon King denied the West Indies “B” team’s late rush for a win. There were three run outs, and the pacers did the damage for West Indies “B”, Jason Bennett picking up three for 18 off three overs, Andrew Richardson, two for 44 off six overs, and Reon Thomas one for 40 off three overs.
