Devastating spells by offspinner Steven Jacobs who bagged four wickets, and pacer Paul Wintz (3/15) set up Guyana’s victory by 103 runs over the Windward Islands in their Group A WICB Regional Super50 encounter at the National Stadium, Providence, on Wednesday.
Windward Islands were dismissed for 72 in 24.5 overs, with off-spinner Jacobs finishing with A career-best 4 for 21 off 10 disciplined overs.
Due of a stoppage for rain, the visitors were set a revised target of 176 from 40 overs, after the Guyanese were bowled out on the final delivery of their innings for 192.
Windward Islands had a wobbly start that led to a dramatic collapse, as they lost half their side for 13 runs from just six overs.
Guyana achieved early breakthrough when Johnson Charles wandered out his crease to be stumped by wicket keeper Derwin Christian off Paul Wintz for 1 in the second over.
Devon Smith’s nightmares against off-spinners continued Assad Fudadin opted to open the bowling with off-spinner Steven Jacobs, who in his second over removed the Windward Islands Captain without scoring. Smith was caught by Wintz at point with the visitors 6-2 in 2.3 overs.
Three balls later Andre Fletcher became the third causality after he was trapped leg before to Jacobs for 2. Paul Wintz then accounted for Liam Sebastien (1) and Keddy Lesporis (3) via the lbw route in the span of four deliveries as the tourists lost five wickets for 13 runs.
The Windward Islands innings closed when Dennis George (14) was run out from a direct hit by Foo from longon to send wild celebrations among the Guyanese players and the handful of spectators.
Nelon Pascal was left unbeaten on 12.
The Guyanese batsmen found left-arm spinner Garey Mathurin (3/ 38) almost unplayable.
Pacer Nelon Pascal too put up an impressive performance, finishing with figures of 9-0-38-4. Liam Sebastien and Denis George claimed a wicket apiece to hasten the end of Guyanese resistance.
Christopher Barnwell on the attack during his crucial innings of 38
Guyana opted to leave out West Indies Under-19 pair, fast bowler Ronsford Beaton and leg- spinner Amir Khan along with Norman Fredricks, who was a late replacement for the injured former test opener Sewnarine Chattergoon in the 14-member squad.
Openers’ debutant Trevon Griffith and Assad Fudadin got off to a slow start, finding it difficult to play freely with the ball not coming on to the bat.
Fudadin was put down by Mathruin at point off Pascal in the third over with Guyana on seven, before Trevon Griffith hit the first boundary of the innings in that same over. Nelon Pascal then made the vital break through in the fifth over.
Griffith frustration was mounting, and in an effort to cut loose he hit the ball straight into the hands of Dennis George at backward square. Griffith made 10 with just the solitary boundary off the13 balls he faced.
Leon Johnson, who joined Fudadin, tried desperately to rebuild the innings.
However the introduction of left-arm spinner Garey Mathurin in the 18th over proved to be a pivotal moment. Johnson made 19, going caught and bowled by Mathurin to end the second wicket partnership of 47 as the hosts slipped to 62-2 in 20.4 overs.
New man Travis Dowlin who replaced the injured Ramnaresh Sarwan in the squad and Fudadin forged a 32-run partnership before the opener was departed in the 29th over. Fudadin was trapped leg before wicket to Mathurin for 45 that came off 102 deliveries included 3 fours at 92- 3.
The Guyanese then lost the plot in the middle and without their three most experienced middle- order batsmen (Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine) the young middle and lower middle order simply capitulated under the pressure.
Dubious shot selection and naïve running between the wickets showed their inexperience as the hosts lost their next six wickets for 65 runs in 16.1 overs to be reduced to 157-9 in 44.4 overs. Royston Crandon (15), Jonathan Foo (1), Travis Dowlin made a fighting 31, Derwin Christian (2), Steven Jacobs (9) and Paul Wintz (1) were all back in the dressing room.
However, West Indies T20 player Christopher Barnwell ensured that Guyana did not falter further.
The strongly built all-rounder added 35 for the last wicket with debutant Steven Latcha.
Barnwell played a crucial 45-ball knock that included 2 fours and a six before he was bowled off the final ball of the innings by Pascal for 38. Latcha remained unbeaten on 7.
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