Guyana U13 draw 1st blood in 5-match series against Barbados

Guyana’s Under-13 secured a commanding victory over Barbados Under-13 on Saturday at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
In the 36-over contest, Guyana won the toss and elected to field. Barbados made a steady start, posting a 39-run opening partnership before captain Oliver King was run out for 13. Kymani Inniss (27) and Natarie Lavine (37) showed positive intent during the middle overs with aggressive stroke play, but both failed to convert their starts into big scores.
The Barbados lower order battled bravely, guiding the visitors to a competitive total of 177 for 7 from their allotted 36 overs.
Sahid Gajnabi led Guyana’s bowling attack with figures of 2 for 33, while Ashton Collins, Jasani Craig, and Makai Dowlin each claimed one wicket.
In reply, Guyana’s chase of 178 began with an early setback when Nathaniel Ramkarran was dismissed by a sharp short delivery from Kijani Inniss.
Lomar Seecharan and Sahid Gajnabi then steadied the innings, adding 65 runs for the second wicket. Seecharan looked particularly fluent, playing several elegant drives in the early stages of his innings.
The partnership was broken by Zdari Scantlebury when Gajnabi, who scored 14 from 23 balls, lobbed a short ball to backward point. At the end of nine overs, the Guyana side was 67 for 2.

Seecharan went on to bring up his half-century with a superb cover drive for four and continued to dominate the bowling as he forged another solid partnership with Afraz Ali.
He was eventually dismissed for a well-crafted 79 off 63 balls, caught on the deep square leg boundary, an innings that included 10 fours and three sixes. At that stage, the Guyanese team was firmly in control at 124 for 3.
An aggressive cameo from Makai Dowlin, who struck 31 off just 15 balls including three sixes and a boundary, alongside the steady, unbeaten Afraz Ali (25 from 61 balls), saw Guyana comfortably reach 178 for 3 in 26.5 overs to seal the win.
The second match of the series is scheduled to be played today at the same venue. (Gerold Montfort)