GUYANA grabbed full points against the Leeward Islands in their fourth round match of the 2007 Carib Beer Cricket Series, which ended yesterday at the Albion Community Centre Ground in Berbice.
It was Guyana’s first outright win in this year’s Carib Beer Series competition. Mahendra Nagamootoo sealed the three- wicket victory for the Guyanese, some 74 minutes into the post-lunch session, hitting medium-pacer Kerry Jeremy for consecutive fours as Guyana overhauled the required 237 to win.
Final scores in the match were: Leeward Islands 187 and 244, Guyana 195 and 240 for seven.
Resuming on the fourth and final day on 121 for three, still needing a further 116 with Azeemul Haniff and Ramnaresh Sarwan unbeaten on 16 and 13 respectively, Guyana suffered a setback 18 minutes into the day, when Haniff edged a delivery from Adam Sanford to Steve Liburd at second slip.
The left-hander Haniff, cutting at a delivery that was too close to him, added just five to his score. When he departed Guyana were 129 for four.
Having picked up an early wicket, just what the doctor had ordered for the Leewards, their fast bowlers, spearheaded by the impressive Sanford (4-56), bowled purposefully, testing Sarwan and new batsman Narsingh Deonarine with some hostile bowling on a pitch where inconsistent bounce continued to pose problems for batsmen.
However, both Sarwan and Deonarine were equal to the task, quickly pouncing on anything that was in their slot.
While Deonarine was prepared the play the supportive role, Sarwan was the aggressor, as the pair brought up Guyana’s 150 in 235 minutes off 54.2 overs.
Playing several audacious shots on either side of the wicket, Sarwan reached 40 when he pulled a wide ball from fast bowler Baker (1-60), lobbing a catch to Sanford at midwicket to terminate a 35-run fifth-wicket partnership with fellow Test batsman Deonarine, much to the disappointment of another small crowd, made up of mainly schoolchildren.
At that stage Guyana were 164 for five with the visitors having their tails up.
Derwin Christian came in and seemed bent on taking the attack to the Leewards pacemen but after putting together 26 with Deonarine, Sanford again struck, this time inducing an attempted hook from Christian (7), which the batsman edged to the wicketkeeper.
Guyana went to lunch on 191 for six, with Deonarine on 19 and Nagamootoo on 1, still requiring 46, having accumulated 70 runs in the morning session.
Upon resumption, Deonarine eased the pressure somewhat when he punched Kerry Jeremy down the ground and then a flick through mid-wicket for successive fours.
Bringing up Guyana’s 200 in 312 minutes off 71.4 overs, the left-handed duo batted responsibly in carrying the score to 218 before Deonarine, later named man-of-the-match, was given out, caught behind off medium pacer Tonito Willett (1-21) for 36, a knock that contained four fours.
Nagamootoo, 24, in company with Esaun Crandon, 6, then kept the Leewards at bay, guiding Guyana safely home.
Guyana with 12 points from yesterday’s victory have now moved to 20 points and will now play Barbados on 42 points in their next match starting on Monday at the GCC ground, Bourda, while the Leewards on nine points face the Windward Islands in Antigua at the ARG.
LEEWARDS 1st innings 187 (M. Pipe 33; N. Deonarine 4-24)
Guyana 1st innings 195 (S. Chattergoon 57; K. Jeremy 4-48)
Leeward Islands 2nd innings 244 (S. Joseph 79; V. Permaul 3-43)
GUYANA 2nd innings (o/n 121 for 3)
S. Chattergoon b Sanford 20
R. Crandon b Jeremy 19
T. Dowlin lbw Sanford 38
A. Haniff c Libud b Sanford 21
R. Sarwan c Sanford b Baker 40
N. Deonarine c wkp. Williams b Willett 36
D. Christian c wkp. Williams b Sanford 9
M. Nagamootoo not out 24
E. Crandon not out 6
Extras: (10-b, lb-7, nb-9, w-1) 27
Total: (7 wkts, 83.5 overs) 240
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-52, 3-102, 4-129, 5-164, 6-190, 7-218.