Campbelle, Shepherd delighted at copping GCB top awards

By Brandon Corlette

Dynamic Berbician duo Shemaine Campbelle and Romario Shepherd have copped the top awards at the recent Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) awards ceremony.

The fast-bowling all-rounder Shepherd, who plays for Tucber Park, copped the GCB Male Player of the Year award and the Most Improved Player award. he had made significant strides for Guyana Jaguars and Guyana Amazon Warriors, and has earned selection for the West Indies Team.
Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) player Shemaine Campbelle, who received the GCB Female Player of the Year award, has been the premier female in the country for years, enjoying success for the Guyana senior team and being a constant member of the West Indies Women teams over the years.

Each of these top Guyana cricketers spoke to Guyana Times Sport after receiving their awards, and expressed great satisfaction at the development.

Shepherd thankful for success
The well-built fast bowling all-rounder who pipped Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul in the race for GCB Player of the Year told this daily publication that winning this award was a great feeling.
“Going out during the season, my mind was never on this award. I was more focused on going out each and every game and do my best for the team, leaving it all on the field. With that being said, I’ve been rewarded with this award, and I am really thankful to God for keeping me fit throughout the competition, and the GCB”, Shepherd explained.

Shepherd debuted for Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2018 and made an immediate impact. He donned the white for Guyana Jaguars in the Regional 4-Day season in 2018/19 and finished as the leading fast bowler in the Caribbean, with 37 wickets. He displayed his great fitness playing all ten matches in the season.
Shepherd gained his maiden One Day International (ODI) cap against Afghanistan, and is currently playing in India, where he has also tasted success for West ‘Indies A’.
In the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Shepherd again impressed, finishing with 13 wickets. The 25-year-old, who has three wickets in three ODIs, has played 22 First-Class matches.
Shepherd has taken 70 wickets at a staggering bowling average of 23.71 in the First-class arena. He has two five-wicket hauls, with a best of 5-24. Having showed signs of being a ‘death-bowling boss’, Shepherd has taken 17 wickets in 13 T20 matches at an average of 19.70. He has a best bowling figure of 4-13.
In his List A career, he has taken 31 wickets in 22 matches, with an economy rate of 5.33 and an average of 24.93.

Campbelle enjoyed Regional success
Guyana’s top female cricketer Campbelle was also delighted with the award. Campbelle showed that she is a class above her Guyanese team mates in 2019 when she finished the female Regional Super50 tournament with 211 runs, including a brilliant century against Jamaica, which came in a losing effort against the Jamaicans at Everest.
The 27-year-old Campbelle has 83 ODIs under her belt, and has scored one century. She is just one match shy of 100 T20 Internationals, which is the most by any Guyanese. The wicket-keeper/batter has also shown her ability with the ball by taking a total of 55 wickets for West Indies Women in the past.