GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) - Guyana took only 45 minutes on the final day to formalise their final round victory over Kenya and secure a semifinal place in the Carib Beer 2004 International Shield at the Bourda Oval, yesterday.
Kenya, 172 for seven overnight, folded for 191 in 90.4 overs, to give Guyana an innings and 114-run victory.
The highlight of the morning was Hitesh Modi, the right-handed middle order batsman grafting away for his first fifty -- an even one -- for the series.
It was the only innings that showed fight for the Kenyans even though the day before saw a robust and aggressive top-score knock of 70 from Kennedy Otieno.
Martin Suji (2) was the first batsman to fall yesterday morning, caught by Zaheer Mohamed off pacer Rayon Griffith.
Then leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo snatched his third wicket of the innings and the eighth of the match when Modi pulled him to the substitute fielder, Krishna Arjune at deep backward square.
Modi's knock lasted for 151 balls with six boundaries. He got the six runs needed this morning to register his half-century but then surrendered as he achieved the landmark which came from 146 balls and after two-and-three-quarter-hours of batting.
The last wicket fell soon after. Peter Ongondo (6) was caught at short mid-wicket by Travis Dowlin off Griffith who, like Nagamootoo (3-46) and McGarrell (3-43), ended with three wickets in the innings.
Guyana now return to Barbados where they lost their first game this season to take on the Bajans in the semifinals on Thursday at the Kensington Oval.
From a position of zero points after losing their first three away games, Guyana did well to be in contention for the Carib Challenge Trophy.
The efforts of captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul and man-of-the-match Ramnaresh Sarwan, who were away doing Test duties will be crucial if Guyana are to create what would be a major upset against the rampant undefeated Barbadians, runaway winners of this years Carib Beer Series.
Chanderpaul was loud in praise for his players, particularly Sarwan's tumultuous knock of 199, his highest first class score.
"Congratulations to my team and Sarwan for getting 199, we will go to Barbados and hope to keep the Guyana flag flying high," the Guyana captain said after the game.
GUYANA 1st innings 444 (R. Sarwan 199; R. Aga 4-71)
KENYA 1st innings 130 (B.Patel 59; M.Nagamootoo 5-45)
KENYA 2nd innings (following on, o/n 172 for 7)
K.Otieno c Daesrath b McGarrell 70
B.Patel s Sarwan b McGarrell 5
R.Aga c Chattergoon b McGarrell 10
S.Tikolo c Sarwan b Nagamootoo 5
H.Modi c sub. (Arjune) b Nagamootoo 50
C.Obuya c Daesrath b Sarwan 14
F.Otieno lbw Nagamootoo 7
M.Ouma lbw Griffith 5
M.Suji c Mohamed b Griffith 2
P.Ongondo c Dowlin b Griffith 6
L.Onyango not out 0
Extras: (b-10, lb-3, w-1, nb-3) 17
Total: (all out from 90.4 overs) 191
Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-91, 3-96, 4-102, 5-143, 6-152, 7-171, 8-181, 9-191.