Fraser, Mangru, Gajnabi in Regional U-19 team of the tournament

CWI/TTWCA Regional Female U-19 Tournament

By Brandon Corlette

In the recently-concluded Cricket West Indies (CWI) Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Cricket Association (TTWCA) Regional Female U-19 tournament, Guyana lost to eventual champions, Trinidad and Tobago. The Guyanese team that finished third reached the semi-finals on the back of some stellar performances from the trio of Cherry Ann Fraser, Mandy Mangru and Shabika Gajnabi.

At the conclusion of the tournament, an 18-member tournament team was selected. The team that will engage in a CWI developmental programme includes all the outstanding performers from the respective Caribbean teams. Guyana’s Mangru accumulated 164 runs in the tournament with a high score of 54.
In addition to Mangru’s solid batting at the top of the order, she displayed great control with her off-spin; she had a best bowling figure of 3-18 in the T20 tournament, which was played in spin-friendly conditions in Trinidad and Tobago. Meanwhile, Windies Women selectee and Guyana U-19 female captain, Gajnabi showed her class at the junior level with both bat and ball.

The recently-concluded tournament saw Gajnabi scoring two half-centuries (57 against Jamaica and 52 versus Trinidad and Tobago). Bowling her right-arm medium pace, the girl, from Chesney in Berbice, had a best bowling figure of 3-13 against Barbados. Fraser, the third member from Guyana who was selected in the team of the tournament, had some good all-round games.
Fraser, who picked up a player-of-the-match award against Canada in the opening match, displayed some clean hitting; she had a top-score of 37. Bowling brisk right-arm seam, Fraser had some three two-wicket hauls bowling the new ball for the Guyana girls. In her Player-of-the-Match performance against Canada, she had 2-21 to go with her 37.
At the official presentation ceremony of the female Regional U-19 tournament held in Trinidad and Tobago, Mangru was awarded the best fielder for Guyana. Windward Islands Captain Qianna Joseph was the player of the tournament that saw host nation Trinidad and Tobago emerging victors.
The full 18-member team of the Regional U-19 female tournament reads: Alysha Gomez (T&T); Anjali Goordeen (T&T); April Ramoutar (T&T); Cherry Ann Fraser (Guyana); Djenaba Joseph (T&T); Jannillea Glasgow (Windward Islands); Jephenia Joseph (Windward Islands); Mandy Mangru (Guyana); Qianna Joseph (Windward Islands); Reanna Farrow (T&T); Shabika Gajnabi (Guyana); Shai Carrington (Barbados); Shania Abdool (T&T); Shaunete Carrington (T&T); Shawnisha Hector (Windward Islands); Shunelle Sawh (T&T); Steffie Googrim (T&T) and Zaida James (Windward Islands).
The tournament, which was played in Trinidad and Tobago, was hailed as a success, and it is technically a tournament that allows girls who are aged 19 and under to play. This 2019 edition was, however, different since Canada was a guest team and they were allowed to field a team free from players’ age restrictions. The tournament is a good initiative for women’s cricket, since it aids in the smooth transition of the girls from junior cricket to senior cricket.