Rutherford’s all round brilliance spearheads Guyana

WICB Regional U-19

– Windwards win again

Guyana Under-19 team moved closer to the finals after defeating Jamaica by 32 runs on Thursday, as action ended in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional U-19 tournament in St Vincent. The reigning champions were spearheaded by all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford’s brilliance.
Rutherford made 34 at the top of Guyana’s innings then returned with the ball to capture five wickets to lead his team closer to Sunday’s finals. Guyana made 190 all out in 50 overs after choosing to bat first. Ronaldo Ali Mohamed (42 from 37 balls) and Rutherford were the principal scorers while Looknauth Chinkoo (24) and Joshua Persaud (27), who batted down the order for the first time in this year’s tournament, chipped in with scores in the twenties.

At one stage, Guyana was wobbling at 89-5 before Persaud and Mohamed 58 runs for the six innings to lead their team’s recovery. Left arm spinner Jeavor Royal, who was Guyana’s nemesis in their three-day match last month ended with tidy figures of 2-21 from 10 economical overs. However, it was Tyrone Daley, who was Jamaica’s leading bowler with 3-20 as Michael Frew contributed with 2-44.
In reply, Jamaica was rattled out for 159 in 47.4 overs with Jordane Hill (40) and Daley (24) being the only batsmen to past 20. Rutherford was destructive with 5-17 while Keemo Paul and Kheshram Seyhodam were once again effective with the ball, claiming two wickets each.
Guyana has now won four of its five matches and will close off the final round today against Barbados.
Front runners Windward Islands thumped Leeward Islands by eight wickets after the latter was routed for 54 runs. Jonathan Taylor and Rasheed Fredericks were the main wreckers, with three scalps each as West Indies U-19 player Ryan John assisted with two wickets. Only fourth round centurion Tyrone Williams (17) and Camron Pennyfeather (14) made it to double figures.
Windwards raced to the target in 6.2 two overs, with two wickets down. Anil Matthew hit a cameo of 39 from 20 deliveries while Pennyfeather grabbed two wickets.
In the other game, Barbados crushed ICC Americas by seven wickets to stake a claim for an exciting final round clash against Guyana. Batting first ICC Americas made 203 all out in 50 overs, with Akashdepp Gill making 85 as Chemar Holder claimed three victims.
In response the winners were led by a 113 run unbroken fourth wicket partnership which saw Leniko Holder and Yvant Grant ending on 69 and 50 respectively. Sahil Patel got two wickets for ICC Americas.