Nicolette Fenandes headlines BCQS Squash Masters C/ships

By Sean Devers

WORLD Over-35 Masters Champion and Guyana’s 2022 Sportswoman of the year, Nicolette Fernandes, will headline the BCQS Squash Masters Championships that is scheduled to commence this evening at the Georgetown Club squash courts.

The 39-year-old Fenanades will compete in the Men’s draw in the four-night tournament that will conclude on Saturday.

There will be a ‘Bajan’ invasion and the locals will try to dominate the guests in what is anticipated to be a riveting competition.

The Canada-born Fernandes, who won a Pan Am Games Gold Medal last year, will match racquets with Reagan Rodrigues in match five of the opening night.

This will be the first

…Bajans dominate overseas contingent

tournament of a packed year for Squash in Guyana and it will be followed by the Bounty Farm Mashramani Handicap tournament that starts on February 15th.

Today, the action on court should be fast and furious with Javid Rahaman playing Dane Pereira, Javid Ali battling Nicholas Narain, Regan Pollard opposing Jason Van Dijk and Lee Fung-a-Fat competing with Jonathan Antczak in several all-Guyana matches.

Among the International players from Barbados are Shawn Simpson (O-35), Mark Sealy, Marlon White, Sanjay Amin, Dean Straker and Frank Jordan (O-55).

The O-65s from Barbados are Orson Simpson, Errol Pilgrim and Tony Roach.

Competing also are Trinidadian Peter Pirtheesingh and Mark Francis of BVI in the Over-45.

Winston Findlay from

BVI will play in the Over65 while Vincentian Hazel Ann-Sandy will compete on the distaff side in the Over35 category.

According to Chairman of Competitions, Deje Dias, they have confirmed over fifteen international players from across the Southern-Caribbean that will be on show.

The GSA executive said that players set to be here (in Guyana) for the BCQS 2023 Squash Masters hail from countries such as Barbados, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

There will be matches every night with at least four being contested each day.

The GSA also promised a little extra action happening on Friday with the first of the finals to be hosted on Saturday afternoon.

Action is scheduled to start at 16.00hrs today.

Day one of CWI 2023 West Indies Championship...

Walcott hits unbeaten 87 as Windwards Volcanoes bowled out for 243

TEVYN Walcott scored an unbeaten 87 while Bryan Charles and Terrance Hinds took four wickets each as the Windward Islands Volcanoes and the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force played out an even first day of the opening CWI 2023 West Indies Championship fixture at the St. George’s Stadium in Grenada.

The Red Force won the toss and chose to bowl first on a sunny first day. Their decision was rewarded early as Terrance Hinds removed former West Indies Under-19 Captain Kimani Melius for just four in the third over.

Hinds got his second victim just two overs later, removing Kavem Hodge caught behind for a duck.

Captain Alick Athanaze then joined Jerlani Robinson at the crease and the pair put on 28 runs before Robinson was dismissed by Tion Webster for a patient 14 off 40 balls.

This brought the experienced Sunil Ambris to the crease and he and Athanaze put on 54 for the fourth wicket before Athanaze was dismissed just after lunch for 40.

Barbadian all-rounder Justin Greaves was next in but went quickly for five to leave the Volcanoes reeling at 113-5, bringing Walcott to the middle to

Newcastle beat Southampton to reach EFL Cup FINAL

Newcastle United reached their first cup final since

1999 by overcoming Southampton in the EFL Cup at an ecstatic St James' Park.

Eddie Howe's resurgent side will face either Manchester United or Nottingham Forest at Wembley as the Magpies attempt to win their first major trophy since the Inter Cities' Fairs Cup in 1969.

Newcastle, who last played in a Wembley showpiece when they were beaten by Manchester United in the 1999 FA Cup final, had a 1-0 advantage from this semi-final first leg, and Sean Longstaff settled any nerves among an expectant Toon Army with two early goals.

The only cloud over Newcastle's celebrations was a late red card for influential Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes for a challenge on Samuel Edozie, given by referee Paul Tierney after the intervention of VAR.

The hosts had gone in front just four minutes in as Longstaff took advantage of good work from Kieran Trippier to beat Saints join Ambris.

Ambris, who has played six Tests and 16 ODIs for the West Indies, reached 55, his 15th Firstclass fifty, before falling at the hands of Hinds to leave the Windwards 130-6.

Walcott and Ryan John then combined to fight off the Red Force bowling, putting on 98 for the seventh wicket before their resistance was ended when John was dismissed caught behind off the bowling of Bryan Charles for 36.

The score quickly became 229-8 when Charles dismissed Kenneth Dember for a duck, taking his 100th First-class wicket.

Walcott provided some late hitting before Preston McSween and Darius Martin were both dismissed without troubling the scorers.

In the end, the Volcanoes were bowled out for 243 with Walcott finishing not out on 87, his third first-class fifty and highest score.

Bryan Charles led the way with the ball, taking 4-46 from 17.1 overs while Terrance Hinds took 4-72 off 13 overs.

With Red Force debutant Vikash Mohan unable to open due to injury, Khary Pierre joined regular opener Jeremy Solozano at the top of the order.

The move didn’t work as pacer Darius Martin dismissed Pierre for a duck in the second over.

Captain Darren Bravo and Solozano ensured that the Red Force went into the end of the day with no further wickets lost, ending 50-1 off 21 overs, trailing by 193 runs.

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes: 243 all out in 63.1 overs (Tevyn Walcott 87*, Sunil Ambris 55, Terrance Hinds 4-72, Bryan Charles 4-46) Trinidad & Tobago Red Force: 50-1 (Darren Bravo 32*, Jeremy Solozano 18*). (Sportsmax) keeper Gavin Bazunu, and the goalscorer then crowned a sweeping move with a confident finish in the 21st minute.

Che Adams gave Southampton hope with a fine 25-yard strike on the halfhour that ended Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope's attempt to keep an 11th clean sheet in succession, but their slow start cost them dearly to leave Howe and his players contemplating that Wembley date on 26 February. (BBC Sport)