Latest update November 7th, 2024 1:00 AM
Feb 01, 2014 Sports
By Sean Devers in Trinidad In Association with Digicel, Carib Beer,
Giftland Office Max, Payless Variety Store & Leisure Inn & Car Rentals
Playing against Ireland, ICC’s most successful Associate team, Guyana registered only their second 300-plus total in Regional 50-over cricket and highest score at this level at the Queens Park Oval last night in the NAGICO Regional Super50 competition, surpassing the 282 made by Jamaica on Thursday night.
The classy Ramnaresh Sarwan led the assault on the Dutch with a magnificent unbeaten 89 from 62 balls with 10 fours and four sixes which lifted Guyana to 301-3 off 50 overs after Shiv Chanderpaul (79) and Trevon Griffith (62) had built a solid, but slow 129-run foundation. Kevin O’Brian took 3-56.
Ireland who have already qualified for the 2015 World Cup, slumped to 27-4 and never recovered with Paul Wintz (3-30), Narsingh Deonarine (2-6) and Ronsford Beaton (2-41) leading Guyana to a 114-run win as the Irish were bowled out for 187 in 38.3 overs despite a fighting 54 from Andrew Poynter and 39 from Kevin O’Brian.
The 33-year-old Sarwan holds both Regional records for most centuries in a season (3 in 2005) and most tons in the competition (4). Man-of-the-Match Sarwan flourished with an array of scintillating shots and staked an early claim for a trip to Australia and New Zealand for next year’s World Cup.
Guyana won the toss in glorious sunshine and batted first after omitting Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon and Robin Bacchus from their starting line-up.
Chanderpaul, who opened with Griffith, has played more 50 overs games for Guyana than anyone else (83) and yesterday on a fast outfield he began in a positive fashion playing a number of firm, confident shots.
The experienced left-hander, who insists he has not retired from ODIs, got going with a deft flick to the fine leg boundary off Max Sorensen. He followed it up with a nonchalant push through mid-on and a perfectly timed square drive off Tim Murtagh for fours.
Griffith was not to be left out and with two handsome off drives reached the boundary like scud missiles and the Guyanese, hunting their 10th title and first since 2005, were well placed at 50-0.
A scorching straight drive from Chanderpaul almost took Murtagh’s ankle with it to the boundary, but off-spinner Andy McBrine and Alex Cusack put the brakes on the scoring with Chanderpaul outscoring the usually more pugnacious Griffith as the run rate dipped.
Chanderpaul literally coached Griffith through his innings and was very animated when the DCC left-hander had his moments of indiscretions. A well timed flick for six by Griffith was as much Chanderpaul’s work as the batsman himself.
While Chanderpaul slowed down, Griffith accelerated and as they approached their fifties, they were ‘neck and neck’ with their scoring. A clever late cut from Chanderpaul for four brought up Guyana’s 100 in 23.2 overs, with the second fifty taking 9.2 overs.
Chanderpaul was the first of the two to his fifty but it took 71balls and included five fours. Griffith reached his land mark off the next ball, facing 78 balls and striking four fours and a six.
This was the second time the 22-year-old Griffith had scored a half-century at this level, while the 39-year-old Chanderpaul has done it 91 times in List ‘A’ cricket.
The openers seemed well set but when three runs away from Guyana’s record opening partnership of 131 between Sewnarine Chattergoon and Krishna Arjune against Trinidad & Tobago in Barbados in 2005, Griffith fell to medium pacer Kevin O’Brian at 129-1 in the 30th over.
Griffith, who faced 96 balls and struck five fours and a six in his constrained innings, was stupendously caught by a diving Sorensen at mid-off.
Ramnaresh Sarwan is aiming to resurrect his West Indies career after playing 181 ODIs and the stylish right-hander pulled O’Brian for six to move into double figures.
Chanderpaul who batted 38 overs and faced 113 balls was caught at mid-on, trying to go over the top to O’Brian at 160-2. He failed to capitalize on being dropped off the same bowler on the same score three balls before and his strike rate of less than 70 must be a concern for the Guyana camp.
Skipper Christopher Barnwell was promoted ahead of Deonarine and Leon Johnson and found himself with 11 overs to try to push the score on. He once again responded in entertaining fashion and along with Sarwan whose confidence and array of shots improved as his innings progressed, added 65 in 6.4 over for the third wicket.
A stinging straight driven boundary off Murthah from Sarwan was followed by two sixes in the same over from the in-form Barnwell, who hit O’Brian for a massive six before lofting the next ball, a well disguised slower ball, ‘miles’ into the air as O’Brian picked up the third wicket. Barnwell made a cameo 31 from just 15 balls with two fours and three sixes.
Sarwan reached his 50 from 46 balls with six fours and a six and celebrated with a gorgeous back cut for four. Sarwan was not finished yet and clobbered O’Brian for a gigantic six and dumped Cusack for two consecutive sixes and a four before Johnson (23*) finished off the over, which cost 21, with a boundary.
The last five overs cost 73 runs as Sarwan, who looked back to his best form, injected life into the innings as he and Johnson (27* from 14 balls with 4 fours & a six) put together 76 in an unbroken partnership.
When Ireland began their reply Niall O’Brian (4) was LBW to Wintz, who also got rid of Cusack (12) and Gary Wilson (5), while the lively Beaton trapped Skipper William Porterfield in front before he had scored as the Dutchmen capitulated to 27-4.
Wintz, who appeared tired, was deposited by Kevin O’Brian for two fours and a six in one over as he and Poynter added 59 for the fifth wicket before O’Brian (39) was bowled by Test leg spinner Devendra Bishoo to leave Ireland on 86-5.
John Mooney was given LBW when on eight, but the third Umpire deemed Bishoo’s front foot had overstepped the popping crease resulting in a no ball being called. He fell without adding to his score when he was bowled by Veerasammy Permaul at 112-6.
Poynter reached his 50 from 63 balls with four fours but was soon run out as Ireland crashed to 143-7 and it was all over bar the shouting.
Guyana wrapped up the match with 11.3 overs to spare much to the delight of a small but raucous flag-waving Guyana support group in the stands.
The South Americans play Jamaica on Tuesday at the same venue in another Day/Night affair starting at 14:00hrs.
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