GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday March 11 2014
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Ravens edge Pacesetters to advance to ‘Road to Mecca’ semi-finals THE Cliff Anderson Sports Hall came alive on Sunday evening when quarterfinals action got on the way in the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s (GABF) ‘Road to Mecca’ tournament. Scores turned out at Guyana’s premier indoor facility to witness a night of memorable and heartbreaking basketball in the knock-out tournament. When the final whistle was blown and the lights were turned off, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Retrieve Raiders, Colts and Ravens were the four teams remaining. In the battle of the clubs from the Linden Amateur Basketball Federation (LABA), Amelia’s Ward Jets defeated Victory Valley Royals 67-56 and Retrieve Raiders sent the number one seeded Kings packing 57-55. Colts had the better of Pepsi Sonics 65-51 and in the battle of the night Ravens edged Pacesetters 61-58. Even before the two teams played when fans found out that, based on the fixtures, two of Guyana’s biggest clubs were on a collision course, interest grew immensely. After it was announced
… Jets, Raiders and Colts also through
scoring a team-high 23 points for his side but will now have to sit out the rest of the tournament. In the opening game, point guard Dave Causway continues to impress, netting 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds for the Colts’ win over Pepsi Sonics. He was supported by Shelroy Thomas with 16 points. For Pepsi Sonics, Jason Squires’ impressive run in the tournament was ended.
Ravens’ Akeem ‘the Dream’ Kanhai is airborne to score over Pacesetters’ Jermaine Hamilton during his side’s 61-58 point win last Sunday. that the two sides would meet ed only in the final minute of in the quarter-finals, many the fourth quarter after Travis were baffled as to why they Burnett had an offensive foul were meeting so early, so they called against him for pushing turned up in their numbers Ravens’ Marlon Rodrigues to and filled the seats at the Cliff get an inbound pass. Anderson Sports Hall to witRavens and national point ness what they believed would guard Ryan Stephney led have been the best game of the all scorers with a game-high tournament thus far. 25 points while Akeem ‘the They certainly didn’t disDream’ Kanhai had 12 for the appoint the fans who waited for Ravens. hours to catch the final game Pacesetters’ Stephon Gillis of the night which was decidwas lights out from down town,
Fresh start for Windies at T20 World Cup, says Sammy
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – West Indies captain Darren Sammy says his side have put the thrill of winning the Twenty20 World Cup behind them and are prepared to work hard in order to defend their title later this month. Sammy, who was at the helm when the Windies beat hosts Sri Lanka in the final two years ago, believes the tournament in Bangladesh from March 16 to April 6, represents a new start for everyone involved but is confident his charges possess the quality to be successful. “It is a great feeling to be World champions but that’s all gone. When we get to Bangladesh it’s a fresh start and everyone’s got to do again what they did in Sri Lanka (two years ago),” Sammy told reporters here. “Which is to play as a team, play for the people and the goal was to win the title. This time around it is to defend the title and the lads are quite confident and they’ve been working hard in order for us to retain that title.” He continued: “We will miss the services of (Kieron) Pollard who is one of our most experienced T20 players (but) we are now much more experienced. Guys have gained more exposure all over the world and we still have the core in the team and we know once we go out there and perform to our full potential we will be T20 champions.” In 2012, West Indies rode
Darren Sammy their luck in the group stage. players,” he explained. They lost their opener to Aus“The Pollards, the Gayles, tralia via the Duckworth/Lewthe Bravos, the Narines are all is Method while their final marquee players in the IPL and match against Ireland finished to have all these guys in one in a no-result. It allowed them team, it sounds really good for to squeak through to the Super me as captain.” Eight second round by virtue of He added: “Cricket is about a superior net run rate. being comfortable. It’s about Once there, they beat Engoing out there on the pitch and gland, lost to Sri Lanka before trying to execute to the best of again needing a degree of our abilities. Probably we might luck to edge New Zealand in a perform better in certain formats thrilling super over, to reach but on any given day, once the the semi-finals. West Indies team play to their Chris Gayle came good in full potential they can compete the semis win over Australia with anybody in the world. and Marlon Samuels’ brilliance “Yes we won the title but it sealed the final, and Sammy is going to be a challenging task believes that with these type of to go out there and defend it but players in the side that West InI believe we have the quality in dies would be challenging again. the dressing room to do that.” “We have 12 or so West West Indies will do battle Indians playing in the (IPL) in Group 2 alongside, India, which to me is good exposure Australia, Pakistan and yetfor us as a region and for our to-be determined qualifier.
The player had 11 points to go along with his 10 rebounds while Trevor Smith scored 17 points. Meanwhile, in another closely fought game, Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts had a monster night with a double-double (21 points and 20 rebounds) to lead the Retrieve Raiders over the Kings. Roberts was supported by Keon Cameron with 20. Omally Sampson had a decent game for the Kings with 15 points and eight rebounds. Orin Rose (14) and Steve Neils Jr (10) were the
other top performers for the losers. In the Jets/Royals match-up, Shane Webster enjoyed a wonderful evening on the floor for the Amelia’s Ward-based team, netting 22 points and hauling down 15 rebounds. The Jets’ other key performers on the night were Emmanuel Archibald (14) and Rodwell Pellew (11). Only Harold Adams with 18 points, 10 rebounds and Ron Beckles 11 points, 13 rebounds showed any resistance to the Jets’ pressure. The tournament continues on Sunday, March 16 with the semi-finals. In game one, Jets play Raiders and Colts battle Ravens.
BCB to host special Elizabeth Styles Coaching programme THE Special Events Committee (SEC) of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), under the Chairmanship of Hilbert Foster will over the course of the next month be hosting a series of coaching clinics for youth cricketers in the Ancient County. The clinics would be conducted by coaches Winston Smith, Albert Smith and Micheal Hyles-Franco and would target fast bowlers, batsmen, spinners and wicketkeepers at the Under-15 to Under-19 levels. Foster informed that as the BCB celebrates its Diamond Jubilee during 2014, it would place special emphasis on the development of the next generation of players, with special emphasis being placed on potential Inter-county players for Berbice for the 2014 junior tournaments. To this end, Foster is urging all the invited players to take advantage of the BCB and Elizabeth Styles investment in their future and players are asked to contact the BCB office on 333-2375 or Hilbert Foster on 337-4562 for more information.
Shimron Hetmyer The players named for the coaching clinics are in their respective categories: Fast Bowlers – Nial Smith, Grisean Grant, Omar Weatherspoon, Kassim Khan, Navindra Permaul, Sylus Tyndall, Kevindra Persaud, Jason Johashen, Devon Rambharose, Shumar Jack, Dominic Durant, Junior Williams, Adam Matabeer, Rayad Rahim, Imran Khan, Winston Joseph, Randy Singh, Nicholas Shivrattan, Randy Wade, Sayaad Pir Baksh and Yevekanand Jagit. Wicketkeepers – Ashkay Homraj, Hakeem Hinds, Nicholas Cameron, Adrian Sukhwah, Ritesh Omroq, Clifton Lindie, Kyle Micheal, Saheed Khan, Alex Algu, Malcolm Mickle, Yovindra Boodhoo, Shawn Smith, Kendy
Dhanraj, Cornelius Francis, Junior Sinclair. Spinners – Sharaz Ramcharran, David Latchaya, Suraj Dookhna, Joshua Harrichand, Parmanand Ramdhan, Viendra Gooniah, Arif Chan, Daniel Lewis, Deon Esau, Totaram Rajaam, Joshua Gobin, Brandat Singh, Veramoottoo Semwansane, Jaleel Jafar, Kris Ramnarine, Kelvin Omroa, Daniel Samaroo, Brandon Prasad, Jaleel Jackman, Keith Simpson, Naresh Chan, Melvin Singh, Sachin Veerasammy. Batsmen – Shimron Hetmyer, Balchan Baldeo, Ashkay Homraj, Brandon Prasad, Arif Chan, Leon Andrews, Viendra Gooniah, Deon Esau, Hakeem Hinds, Nick Ramroop, Nicholas Cameron, Adrian Sukhwah, Randy Wade, Joshua Harrichand, Matthew Hardial, Steve Deonarine, David Latchaya, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Alex Algu, Junior Williams, Jason Anderson, Daniel Samaroo, Garfield Benjamin, Malcolm Mickle, Davendra Ramkissoon, Rajendra Beharry and Kris Ramnarine.
WALES CDC win Cheddi Jagan Memorial T20 Competition THE WALES Community Development Centre (CDC) Cricket Club won the West Demerara Cheddi Jagan Memorial T20 cricket competition with wins in their semi-final and final matches last Sunday at the Wales Community Centre. In the semifinals, Wales made light work of the Sisters Village Sports Club team defeating them by eight wickets. Batting first, Sisters Village were all out for 110 runs in 17.4 overs with Zafar Khan top-scoring with 31 (3x4, 1x6) and he received good support from Navindra Rankin who scored 22 (2x4), as Ramesh Takur and Ray Richards captured 3 and 2 wickets respectively. In reply, Wales CDC overhauled the total in 9.3 overs, losing two wickets, thanks to Mahesh Persaud’s 42 (4x4, 2x6) and a quick-fire 21 that included three fours and a six off the bat of Shakam Takur. In the final, Wales faced Canal Number 2 Sports Club and came out victorious by eight wickets, reducing their opponents who were asked to bat first, to 126 in 19.4 overs with Devin Roopnarine and Michael Persaud scoring 33 and 22 respectively. Bowling for Wales, Chandrika Persaud, Mahesh Persaud and Ramesh Takur each captured two wickets, before Mahesh Persaud slammed 56 (6x4, 4x6) to steer the victorious Wales to 129 for 2 inside 16.3 overs, earning the Most Valuable Player of the tournament title in the process.