Guyana Under-19s thrash ICC Americas in 50-Overs

Kemo Paul
GUYANA Under-19s made an impressive start to their campaign against their counterparts when they thrashed the ICC Americas team by six wickets in the opening round match of the West Indies Cricket Board Regional 50-Overs competition at the Sion Hall playing field in St Vincent & Grenadines yesterday.ICC Americas XI were dismissed for 173 in 48.5 overs while Guyana romped to an impressive win with 174 for 4 in 34.2 overs.
West Indies’ triumphant World Cup player Keemo Paul was the outstanding player for Guyana. He claimed four wickets for 37 and then blasted 72 (4×6, 6x4s off 93 balls) and shared a match-winning 111-run third-wicket partnership with Bhaskar Yadram who made an unbeaten 57 that included nine fours off 63 balls.
Travis Persaud was also not out on 15 (3×4, off 13 balls) when victory was achieved.
Akenie Adams (10-2-27-3) and Marlon Hubbard (7-0-15-2) also shared the bowling honours with Paul.
Jamaica and Barbados were also victorious in their matches against Trinidad & Tobago and Leeward Islands respectively.
Jamaica Under-19s whipped their Trinidadian counterparts by six wickets at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.
The Trinidad and Tobago batsmen failed to produce big scores and were all out for 131 runs in 41 overs with Keagan Simmons 28, Kirstan Kallicharan 19 and Jonathan Bootan 26 being the main contributors. Miguel Smith (5 for 35) and Jeavor Royal (3 for 20) did the damage for Jamaica who raced to victory with 18 overs remaining.
Jamaica celebrated an important victory with 135 for 4 after 32 overs with Keshawn Beale 56 and Michael Frew 45 the principal scorers.
Barbados bowled out Leewards for 105 in 40.2 overs (Tyrone Williams 34; Tremaine Harris 4 for 20, Joshua Bishop 3 for 21) and then raced to victory with 106 for 3 in 22.3 overs (Nicholas Kirton 30 n.o.) at the Park Hill playing field.
Today, T&T will do battle with Barbados at Sion Hill playing field while Windwards will oppose Jamaica at Arnos Vale SC and Leewards will clash with ICC Americas at Park Hill.
Guyana are on a bye for this round of the seven-team competition.