Guyana’s three frontline spinners, Shiraz Ramcharran, Steven Sankar and Damion Waldron, spun Guyana to victory over Trinidad and Tobago by an innings and 41 runs last Friday in their final round West Indies Cricket Board Under-19 three day fixture at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, to claim that version of this year’s championships.
Trinidad and Tobago who were bowled out for 117 late on the previous day, needed to score 193 to avoid an innings defeat, and despite some resilient batting from Jameel Maniram (39), Amir Jangoo (35, 2×4; 1×6) and skipper Jeremey Solozano 22 (3×4), they were bowled out for 152 at 13:54hrs.
Ramcharran took 3 for 25, Sankar 3 for 42 and Waldron 2 for 20, even as fats bowler contributed amicably well to take 2 for 32, after the visitors were comfortably placed at 62 without loss just after lunch.
Both Solozano and Jangoo started their team’s second innings positively yesterday morning, with Solozano punching Paul through cover point for four, while Jangoo hit Sankar’s second delivery of the day for six, followed by a four back along the ground.
When Solozano paddled swept Sankar for four through backward squareleg, the Trinidadians must have felt comfortable with the scorecard reading 60 without loss after the first hour’s play, but disaster in the form of Sankar struck immediately after the drinks break.
Solozano was outfoxed by a quicker googly and was bowled, while Jangoo picked out Shimron Hetmyer at mid off, when he looked to clear that area off Waldron and following the quick demise of Brian Christmas (00), Brandon Jaggernauth (01), Camilio Carimbocas (13) and Justin Joseph (01), T&T took the luncheon break with their scorecard reading 80 for 6.
That soon became 104 for 9 38 minutes after the interval, when Anderson Phillip (03), Samuel Roopnarine (10) and Jessie Bootan (04) were dismissed, with Ramcharran accounting for Phillip who was well caught by Ashkay Homraj at long on, while Paul removed both Bootan and Roopnarine.
Manniram in partnership with his number 11 Akeel Seetal (14*) fought fire with fire by adding 48 for the final wicket, with both batsmen hitting Balchand Baldeo for six, while Manniram also counted three fours in his innings.
However, in his attempt to his Ramcharran back over his head, Manniram, who batted for 85 minutes and faced 69 balls for his 39, struck one low back to the lanky Ramcharran, who bent and took same one handed to his right, to spark off celebrations amongst his teammates on and off the field.
Several members of the victorious national Under-15 team, who 48 hours earlier had claimed the Regional championships in Jamaica, along with West Indies middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Guyana Cricket Board president Drubahadur and Secretary Anand Sanasie, were also on hand to witness and join in the championship celebrations with the team.