Latest update May 14th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 22, 2014 Sports
By Sean Devers
The 2014 Regional under-19 three-day cricket tournament commences today in Guyana with three matches and host Guyana, the competition’s most successful team, hunt their 13th title since their first in 1974 when they oppose the Leeward Islands in their opening round at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
Double-crown champions Jamaica will face long-standing rivals Barbados at Everest, while the Windwards face-off with Trinidad & Tobago at Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara in the other two matches billed for today.
Two weeks later, the Jamaicans again tackle the Barbadians at the historic Bourda Oval, the former international venue located in the heart of the Guyana capital of Georgetown, in the opening round of the One-day competition on August 4.
This year, the Tournament features only three rounds of three-day matches contested among the six regional teams with the team accumulating the highest number of points being crowned the Three-Day champions.
A composite ICC Americas side, featuring the most promising youngsters from ICC Associate and Affiliate members from the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, will join the six territorial teams for the One-day competition which will be played over seven rounds, leading to the Final between the two teams with the highest number of points.
Jamaica captured the Three-Day title last year in St. Kitts, when they finished on 47.9 points, ahead of T&T, Guyana, Windwards, Barbados and Leewards and played unbeaten to also collect the One-day title, ahead of Windwards, T&T, Guyana, Barbados, ICC Americas and Leewards.
Although Guyana won the first ever Regional youth tournament in 1968 in Barbados, that was an under-21 series, while the next year when Trinidad and Tobago emerged victorious the teams were under-20s.
It was not until 1970 that an under-19 series was organized in Guyana and T&T took the title. After rain ruined the 1998 series in Trinidad the first Regional One-Day under-19 competition was arranged to allow the players a chance to play some cricket.
Guyana, which has never won a One-Day title, and last won a three-day championship in 2007 when they successfully defended their title in St Kitts under the captaincy of Steven Jacobs, oppose the Leeward Islands at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
Guyana hold the record of six consecutive titles from 1992 in Guyana with new National youth selector Andre Percival leading the Guyanese to three consecutive titles from 1992-’94.
Guyana won under Mahendra Nagamootoo in 1995 when appointed Captain Nicholas De Groot broke his finger on the first day of the competition in Grenada.
Nagamootoo’s brother Vishal captained Guyana to success in 1996, while Ramnaresh Sarwan was the Skipper when Guyana won in 1997 on home soil.
Timor Mohamed had become the first Captain to win three consecutive titles when Guyana took Championship honors in 1974, 1975 & 1976.
This is the 14th time Guyana is hosting the competition since 1970 and the first time since 2011. Guyana has won the title on home soil six times (1970, 1976, 1985, 1992, 1997 & 2006)
Guyana hold the record of six consecutive titles from 1992 in Guyana with Andre Percival leading the Guyanese to three consecutive titles from 1992-’94.
Guyana won under Mahendra Nagamootoo in 1995 when appointed Captain Nicholas De Groot broke his finger on the first day of the competition in Grenada.
Nagamootoo’s brother Vishal captained Guyana to success in 1996, while Ramnaresh Sarwan was the Skipper when Guyana won in 1997 on home soil.
Timor Mohamed had become the first Captain to win three consecutive titles when Guyana took Championship honors in 1974, 1975 & 1976.
On what is anticipated to be slow pitches, a Guyanese batsman would be keen to register a century after Berbician Gopie Beasmonie scored 101 in 1970 at the McKenzie Sports Club ground in Linden to become the first Guyanese to score a Regional under-19 century.
Today, Skipper Brian Sattaur, Kemol Savory, Balchan Baldeo and West Indies under-19 players Taignarine Chanderpaul and Shimron Hetmyer are all capable of achieving a three-figure score this year on pitches that should make fast bowling a tedious task and fast bowling all-rounder Kemo Paul and pacer Keon Morris should not expect an easy day at the office for Guyana.
Off-spinners Sharaz Ramcharran and Akel Wallace along with leg-spinner Steven Sankar could enjoy the local tracks and do the bulk of bowling.
Guyana: Brian Sattaur (captain), Sharaz Ramcharran (vice captain), Balchan Baldeo, Daniel Basdeo, Taignarine Chanderpaul, Shimron Hetmyer, Askay Homray, Keon Morris, Keemo Paul, Steven Sankar, Kemol Sevory, Niall Smith, Daimon Waldron, Akel Wallace
Leeward Islands: Jeremiah Louis (captain), Alzarri Joseph (vice captain), Colin Archibald, Therone Bussue, Kacey Carty, Jaeel Clarke, Mohit Hingorani, Asharn Hodge, Shaquille Martina, Ross Powell, Kenrick Scott, Mrinal Wadwha, Dion West, Saeed Williams
Today’s matches are scheduled to begin at 10:00hrs and admission is free to all of the games.
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