Khemraj hails team effort in Guyana’s recent success

Guyana’s National Under-15 cricket team delivered a commanding all-round performance to capture the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Under-15 50-over Bilateral Series, defeating Barbados by 37 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the fifth and final match at the Albion Sports Complex on Monday last to seal a 2–0 series victory.
Despite persistent rainfall threatening to disrupt preparations and match play, the young Guyanese unit showed resilience and composure beyond their years – attributes Head Coach Yeuraj Khemraj credited to meticulous planning and strong support from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).
“Despite the constant rainfall, our players were mentally ready for the contest,” Khemraj said following the triumph. “We made full use of the indoor facility at LBI, where we did a lot of work. Once we had sunshine, we moved outdoors immediately to get in outfield sessions and net practice. It was fortunate for me as head coach to have assistant coaches around who made life easier for us as a unit. I must commend the Guyana Cricket Board for taking the initiative to increase the coaching staff.”
Guyana’s success was built on collective effort rather than individual brilliance. Throughout the series, different players stepped up at crucial moments, underlining the depth and balance of the squad.

In the opening match, Bishops anchored the innings with a composed knock, while Reddy provided late fireworks to propel Guyana to a competitive total. With the ball, Reddy and Akash set the tone early, dismantling the Barbadian top order. Within the first six overs, Barbados found themselves reeling with five to six wickets down, effectively placing the game beyond reach.
“The unit was not depending on one or two individuals to give us victory,” Khemraj explained. “In the second game, Nabbie put up his hand with the bat. Reddy contributed again, and Lamar made an impact with his off-spin bowling. It was a well-knitted unit. Each player worked together. We never saw one player as more impressive or less impressive than the other. We stuck as a unit and supported each other.”
The final encounter at Albion followed a similar script, with Guyana maintaining composure in challenging weather conditions. After setting a competitive target, their bowlers applied relentless pressure, and when rain intervened, the DLS calculations confirmed Guyana’s superiority, sparking celebrations among players and supporters alike.
Looking ahead, Khemraj emphasised the importance of nurturing the talented group as they transition through the ranks.
“It’s now for us to keep this pool of players together. They are a bunch of talented young players,” he noted. “We have programmes that will be put in place through the Guyana Cricket Board to keep them together so they can progress from Under-15 to Under-17, Under-19, and eventually into the senior setup.”
With structured development plans and a strong team ethos already in place, Guyana’s Under-15 triumph may well mark the beginning of a promising pipeline for the country’s cricketing future.