SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 2, 2014
39
Has Alvin Johnson’s wishes for Sarwan to come big come true or is it too early to call? Asks Calvin Roberts in Trinidad (Compliments of Ansa McAl, Regal Stationery, Wartsilla, Romaine Car Wash, F&H Printing, Berbice River Bridge and GT&T “I WOULD just hope that Sarwan can come to the party. I think this tournament would be a decisive one for Ramnaresh Sarwan and the West Indies still need Sarwan, but Sarwan needs to be the Sarwan we know of old. His commitment to date has been good and we are looking forward for him to do well.” Those were the words of Malta Supreme Guyana team manager Alvin Johnson, in the early days of the team’s encampment and preparation period for the West Indies Cricket Board/NAGICO Super50 tournament which is presently being played in Trinidad and Tobago. Asked to comment on Alvin Johnson’s statement during a net session at the Everest Cricket Club ground, the 33 year- old Ramnaresh Sarwan, who has to date played 215 first class matches where he has scored 13, 221 runs at an average of 39.11 with 33 tons said, “As long as I am playing I still think I have a chance of representing the West Indies and the people of this country and that is my ultimate goal.” Represent he did and in fine style too, as the former Guyana and West Indies skipper rolled back the years when he earned the tag of ‘World’s Best Finisher’, by blasting an authoritative and unbeaten 62 balls 89 against Ireland in Guyana’s mammoth 301 for 3, an innings that was
decorated with 10 fours and four sixes. That innings was preceded by a foundation of 129 for the first wicket between Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Trevon Griffith, who both made half centuries, while skipper Christopher Barnwell and Leon Johnson also chipped in with robust innings of their own. “Of course we had a wonderful start from Shiv and young Griffith, so it was just a matter of trying to continue with the momentum, even though we did not have the kind of Power Play that we wanted, as we lost Shiv during that period” said Sarwan in an invited comment after picking up the Man- of- theMatch award. He added, “Barnwell and myself gained some momentum coming out of the Power Play and we were able to ignite, while young Leon Johnson came to the wicket when Barnwell was dismissed and played pretty well for the team.” Kevin O’Brien, who ended with 3 for 56, removed Chanderpaul with his final delivery of the first over in the second Power Play that Sarwan referred to, only for Sarwan and Barnwell to add 65 for the third wicket from 6 overs, at a strike rate of 10.50 runs per over. When Barnwell was dismissed in the 44th over-43.3 overs to be exact, Sarwan and Leon Johnson joined forces to add 76 valuable runs from the remaining 6.3 overs, pushing Malta Supreme Guyana to their eventual total, which in itself is the highest Regional List A score at the Queen’s Park Oval. That total surpassed Jamaica’s 282 for 5 made against defending champions, and Guy-
Guyana’s 301, Sarwan said that while the runs scored were done heavily, once the bowlers bowl smart, they would be able to restrict teams. “I don’t think that if you bat first or second it would make much of a difference, but I think that if you put the bowlers under pressure as well and you are able to execute, then that is a major factor as well, taking into consideration the number of fielders who will be allowed out of the circle at one time. I just think it is a matter of trying to execute your game plan and hopefully once you can do it on the day, then you would be able to score,” posited Sarwan. He said the Guyanese, who last claimed a regional List A title in 2005, had a total of 270 in
Well done Ronnie! A smiling Ramnaresh Sarwan proudly displays his Man- of- the- Match trophy, after his swashbuckling innings against Ireland last Friday afternoon. (Photo courtesy flickr. com/windiescricket.) was one of those days when everything seems to be hitting ana’s next opponents Windward the middle.” Islands, on the opening day of He added, “Generally I the tournament, on a day when thought it was a team effort from the Queen’s Park Oval was hosteveryone, because if you looked ing its 100 List A fixture. from number one to everyone Reflecting on his innings, who batted, everyone chipped Sarwan said, “The situation in, with young Johnson playing called for someone to try and well at the bottom so hopefully accelerate the total and fortuwe can continue with the same nately for me today, the shots form in our remaining matches.’ I played came off, so it was Asked to comment on the just a matter of getting a team previous scores that were made total and at the same time on the pitch, namely Jamaica’s try and execute the shots the 282, Windward Islands 268 and best way you can and today
The Guyana Marathon! Can it be revived? By Clifford Stanley HEADLINES of the Guiana Graphic newspapers dated March 12, 1956 screamed: CLEM FIELDS WINS MARATHON-BEATS ISHMAEL BY 880 YARDS. Written by Sports Journalist Cedric Wiltshire the story continued: “Three hours and a second after yesterday’s marathon started it was over . And as predicted Clem Fields of Rose Hall Estate was the winner. Although finishing 880 yards behind, H Ishmael (Sandbach Parker ) was considered a good second. A scientific fact is that distance is the only type of running in which humans routinely outperform most mammals. Animals can run faster but none can endure for twenty six miles.
Four time female marathon runner Alika Morgan and her Coach Leslie Black. athlete, male or female, to run the distance. The 26.2 miles road race is Wiltshire’s report of a truly mythic race. March 12, 1956 continued: It has been described as the “Fields hinted that he was perfect distance to truly test the hugoing to make the pace a man physiology ; to test the amount blistering one. But as things of fuel in the human gas tanks. turned out he could not get the The marathon, worldwide, rid of Ishmael. is a race thoroughly enjoyed In fact, it was Ishmael by spectators who are awed by who dictated the pace for the the magnitude of the physical first eleven miles. and mental toughness and It was for the next fifteen the heroism required by the
miles that Fields, the stronger of the two, took complete charge and won convincingly amidst tumultuous applause. Crowds lined the entire route and there were big cheers for every athlete as he passed. Naturally the crowd was thickest at the Seawall Bandstand where there was a deafening roar as Fields approached – a solitary figure. It was not very long after that Ishmael was spotted and he too was given a big ovation.” From the tone of the report it can be concluded that the late 1950s were arguably the glory days of the marathon race in Guyana. Historically, the marathon race is based on the legend of Pheidippides, a hero of Ancient Greece. The story is that in the year 490 B.C., an invading Persian Army landed on the plains of Marathon and
See Page 35
mind, but were able to get past that and reached 301, even as he showered praise on the bowling of Paul Wintz, who snared 3 for 30 to help rock the Irish batting early in their innings. Malta Supreme Guyana enjoyed a rest day yesterday, but will be at the National Cricket Centre in Couva from 0:900hrs today, while tomorrow they return to the outdoor facility at the Queen’s Park Oval at the same time for another session, ahead of their game against Windward Islands on Tuesday. We don’t know if it is early days to call on Alvin Johnson’s wishes, for only time will tell, but for now Sarwan has shown he is hungry for runs and intends to do well for Guyana.
Trophy Stall sponsors RHTYSC Tape ball competition for primary schools in the New Amsterdam/ Canje THE cricket development committee of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club continues to attract sponsorship for youth cricket at the school level . Following on the heels of the launching of the GBTI tournaments for Under- 15 and female cricketers in the Lower Corentyne area, the club last Tuesday launched a tape ball competition for primary schools in the New Amsterdam/ Canje/East Bank area. Managing Director of the popular Trophy Stall Ramesh Sunich handed over a set of trophies and medals for the tournament to office manager of the RHTYSC Moonish Singh in the showroom of the company recently opened store, based on South Road, Bourda. Singh who is also head of the RHTYSC Cricket Development Committee stated that the main objectives of the tournament are to promote cricket as a safe avenue for children, identify new talents for the future and to promote the ‘Say no to drugs and yes to
education” message . The winning team would receive a trophy and medals for its entire fourteen man squad while the runners up and the man of the finals would also receive trophies. Members of each finalists will each receive a collection of books as part of the RHTYSC “Yes to reading” programmes. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that in 2014, the RHTYSC would be placing special emphasis on school cricket. He expressed gratitude to Mr. Sunich and the management of Trophy stall for their continued support of the RHTYSC and its activities. Sunich in brief remarks stated that he was pleased to be associated with the RHTYSC which he described as a model organisation for others to emulate. He expressed confidence that the trophy stall primary school tape ball tournament would be successful and like everything the RHTYSC organises would achieve its objectives.
Trophy Stall boss Ramesh Sunich hands over trophy to Moonish Singh.