Guyana’s Poor run in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Three Day Tournament continued yesterday as they suffered a humiliating six wicket defeat to the Leeward Islands inside two days at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
It was the second loss for the current champions in as many matches, with both ending inside two days in low scoring encounters. They never recovered from a horrible start on the first morning (Saturday) where they were demolished for 42 and were eventually capitulated in the final hour on the second day as the Leewards moved to two wins from two matches.
New ball partners Javy Benjamin 3-9 and Kian Pemberton 4-28 were the main wreckers for Leewards on the first morning, receiving support from Jerrickson Louis, who took 2-0 to nail Guyana for the small total. Ronaldo Renee Guyana’s leading batsman in the two
matches was the only one to reach double figure on his way to 12 before he was caught by Benjamin off Pemberton’s bowling.
In their first innings, Leewards made 153 all out in 65.5 overs, with a lead of 111 as Camron Pennyfeather 48 and Ross Powell 26 led the way with the bat. Debutant Kheshram Seyhodan was the pick of the Guyanese bowlers with effective figures of 6-32 from 19.5 overs while Akenie Adams, who got nine scalps in the first match, ended with 2-34.
With a lead of more than 100, Leewards return with the ball to shatter Guyana as they slipped to 107-8, before recovering to reach 162 all out in 56.1 overs as the Guyanese batsmen failed for a fourth time this season.
Sherfane Rutherford top scored with 41 in a cameo which lasted 31 deliveries as the aggressive left-handed batsman hit three fours and four sixes. Number eight batsman Bhaskar Yadram 37 and Malcolm Hubbard, both batting in unfamiliar positions added 55 for the ninth wicket before the latter perished for 35. Renee chipped in with 20 at the top of the order.
Benjamin, Kofi James and Daniel Doram captured two wickets apiece in another collaborative effort to rout the South Americans.
Needing 51 to secure their second victory of the season and a chance to claim the title after years of hiatus, the Leewards started shaky losing two wickets for two runs but recovered to win the match for the loss of just four wickets. James was not out at the end on 22 while Seyhodan, Rutherford and Keemo Paul claimed a wicket each.
At the end of the second day in the other two matches, Trinidad and Tobago was 28 runs adrift from claiming first innings with four wickets remaining against the Windward Islands and Barbados are eight wickets away from topping Jamaica outright.
Scores in the Trinidad versus Windwards are Windwards 204 all out and Trinidad 176-6. Meanwhile in the Barbados versus Jamaica clash the scores are as follow, Barbados 149 all out and 153 all out against Jamaica 125 and 2-1.