Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 01, 2010 Sports
W/Wards reach 371-7 in reply to Guyana’s 457
By Sean Devers in Grenada
In association with Lifetime Reality
On a day in which the West Indies catapulted to a shocking and disgraceful defeat against minnows Zimbabwe in Trinidad, Guyana’s impotent bowling attack was again exposed against the Windward Islands on the 3rd day of their Regional 4-day fixture at the Grenada National Stadium here yesterday.
Test opener Devon Smith enjoys batting against Guyana at this venue and it seems the Guyanese also enjoy watching the enterprising left-hander bat…..for very long periods.
On another day blessed with glorious sunshine, Smith followed up his double century (212) from the last time the teams met here last year with another scintillating display before he was caught behind off part time medium pacer Assad Fudadin off the last ball of the day as the Islanders finished the penultimate day on 371 runs replying to Guyana’s formidable 452.
Smith’s 17th First Class ton and second for the season ensured he became the only batsman in the 2010 tournament to reach 500 runs and along with the experienced Rawle Lewis who hit 7 fours and a six in his 57, added 121 for the 6th wicket to thwart Guyana’s hopes of finishing what has been a miserable competition, on a high with victory today.
The Grenadian Smith, who began the day on 32 with his team on 57-2, batted the entire day to post his 2nd century against Guyana and 12th for the Windward Islands and put together 94 for the 4th wicket with Liam Sebastian who made 45 before his century stand with fellow Grenadian Lewis.
Watched by a handful of fans, night watchman Nelon Pascal struck an early boundary but was soon caught behind by Derwin Christian off the hard working Esuan Crandon for 8 to leave the Windwards, the only Regional team (CCC not included) never to have won a First Class title, on 67-3.
The Dominican Sebastian joined Smith who was severe on debutant teenage pacer Keon Joseph and who played an array of spanking cover drives and back cuts and they too their team to 163 before Sebastian was removed on the stroke of lunch by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul leaving the Windwards Captain unbeaten on 83 at the interval.
With the game between Champions Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago completed just after lunch in rural Grenada, several fans journeyed to the City to watch Smith bat and the diminutive stroke-player, who reminds many of the late Guyana and West Indies opener Roy Fredericks when he hooks and cuts, did not disappoint them.
Although Craig Emmanuel was run out for 18, the Guyanese were never able to make rapid inroads in a batting line-up depending almost entirely on Smith, Sebastian and Lewis on a slow track and fast outfield. By Tea, the hosts had progressed to 264-5 with Smith on 132 and Lewis on 40.
The follow on target of 307 was soon ‘cleared off’ in the final session as Skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan, whose century on Saturday was the mainstay of the Guyana innings, used himself and Davendra Bishoo in an all leg-spin attack. Permaul replaced his captain while Fudadin was introduced after Guyana took the 2nd new ball with little success.
The 35-year-old Lewis soon reached his 24th First Class fifty, before he edged a catch to the Wicketkeeper as Fudadin, with just 3 wickets from 31 First Class matches before yesterday, made the breakthrough.
Lyndon James joined Smith and together defied the Guyanese bowlers until the very last ball of the day when Fudadin captured the prized wicket of Smith to a very low catch to Christian.
James finished the day unbeaten on 18 and will hope to get support from the remaining batsmen on the final day today as the Windwards hunt another 86 runs to claim first innings points in what should be a high scoring draw.
However, with the Windwards prone to regular collapses once Smith fails, it is not unlikely if the home team is bowled out in the first half of an hour today that Guyana can still press for an improbable win on the last day of this year’s regional First-Class season.
In the other results: T&T vs Jamaica –
T&T 144 and 162/9 lose to Jamaica 379Combined Campuses vs Leewards –
Leewards 227 and 40/0 beat Combined Campuses who made 65and 200.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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