A disciplined and responsible unbeaten 31 from wicket-keeper Vishal Nagamootoo and a 54-ball 26 from pacer Esuan Crandon denied the Leeward Islands first innings points at the end of the rain affected final day of their fourth round Carib Beer regional first class competition at Enmore yesterday. Guyana, chasing 351 for first innings points ended on 270-9 effectively robbing the Leewards of first innings points in the game which was subsequently declared a no-result.
Both teams took away four points from the game. The home team began the final day on 119-4, replying to the Leeward’s first innings score of 350 all out. Nagamootoo hit four fours from 240 balls in 320 minutes of batting and, along with Crandon, who also reached the boundary four times, added 42 runs for the ninth wicket after their team had slipped to 204-8 and in danger of losing first innings points. They eventually held on to finish the game on 270-9 and secure their first points in the competition. When play finally began at 1:10 pm yesterday, after the entire third day’s play was washed out, Narsingh Deonarine (44 not out) and Damodar Daesrath (13 not out) took Guyana to 137 before Daesrath was LBW to left-arm spinner Virgil Browne for 23.
On a day blessed with brilliant sunshine, a fair-sized crowd saw Guyana progress to 182 before the second new ball was taken. Deonarine then threw away an ideal opportunity to register his third first class ton on a slow and low track when West Indies pacer Adam Sanford induced Deonarine to attempt an ill-advised pull off the second delivery with the new ball only to be caught at mid on for 70 decorated with four fours from 240 balls and 320 minutes. Seven runs later, at 189-7, skipper Neil McGarrell (22) was LBW to former West Indies seam bowler Kerry Jeremey after the home team had gone to tea at 183-6 with McGarrell on 23 and Nagamootoo yet to score.
Guyana reached the 200-run target set for them to avoid the follow on but lost debutant Zaheer Mohamed (11) at 204-8, LBW to Sanford as the Leewards, pressed for first innings points. Crandon batted well and thumped the ball around in his positive 26 before, with 11 overs to be bowled in the match, he lofted Browne to Tonito Willett on the deep mid-wicket boundary to leave Guyana on 246-9 and the Leewards scenting at least six points for a first innings lead. However, urged on by the home fans, Nagamootoo with sensible batting and great support from Rayon Griffith saw their team to the close without further loss despite aggressive, and at times desperate bowling from the Leewards. Nagamootoo, who made an unbeaten 28 in the last game in Dominica, pulled Jeremey for successive fours before the bowler responded with a head high beamer which sent Nagamootoo on his back as he took evasive action.
A number of vociferous appeals from Brwone were turned down as the Leewards, who wasted an opportunity to run out Nagamootoo when Sanford missed at the non-strikers’ end from mid-off, had to settle for four points to take them to 15 in the eight team competition. Loose fielding by the Islanders and 40 extras helped the Guyana cause as Nagamootoo and Griffith (4 not out) put together 24 in an unfinished last-wicket stand. Sanford finished with 4-64 while Jeremey and Browne supported with two wickets each. Guyana’s vice captain Travis Dowlin was named Man-of-the-Match. Guyana play Trinidad and Tobago in their next game from Friday at Albion in Berbice.