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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday December 12, 2017
Batting let us down, says Griffith By Rajiv Bisnauth GUYANA Jaguars manager/assistant coach Rayon Griffith blamed his batsmen for the historic tie in round six of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day encounter against the Windward Islands Volcanoes on Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. The title-holders’ batsmen folded at the hands of off-spinner Shane Shillingford, who bowled the visitors to the first tie in 152 years of regional first class cricket. Beginning the fourth day with 61 runs behind for victory, the hosts failed to step up to the pressure, and were bundled out for 164, with
the ex-West Indies spinner snatching his 40th five-wicket haul. “While the batting let us down, I think it was reckless cricket … we had enough time to win that game, it was a game we should have won,” Griffith, the former Guyana fast bowler noted. Griffith added, “The application wasn't there at all, which is something that is very surprising. I think it was nerves … we haven’t held our nerves at all … the crucial point was when Keemo Paul was run-out, I think that was the turning point of the game, but having said that the Volcanoes bowled well, especially Shillingford.” Despite the shocking result, the Jaguars remained at
Jaguars manager/assistant coach Rayon Griffith
the top of the table, moving to 97.2 points, having earned 10.8 from the match. However, Griffith stressed the importance of
keeping focus at this crucial stage of the season. "The next game is definitely important. Our focus is on the next game as we must take maximum points to make sure of maintaining our lead … the Hurricanes (Leeward Islands) will not be easy opponents," the 38-year-old said. The Jaguars have been the most dominant team in the history of the PCL, losing three of their 36 games played to date. They lost twice to Leeward Islands Hurricanes and once to the Barbados Pride. The Jaguars now host the Hurricanes in round seven from Thursday before the tournament breaks for the Christmas season.
Guyanese players depart for U-19 World Cup preparation THE five Guyanese youth players selected in the West Indies Under-19 World Cup squad departed on Sunday for St Kitts and Nevis, where they will be a part a preparatory camp ahead of the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Bhaskar Yadram, Raymond Perez, Ashmead Nedd, Ronaldo Alimohamed and Joshua Persaud are the Guy-
anese players selected for the tournament which will be played in New Zealand from January 13 to February 3. The players are expected to return on December 20 for a break after which they leave the Caribbean on December 28 for a one weekcamp in New Zealand prior to the start of the world cup. West Indies are the defending champions and are
installed in Group A alongside Kenya, South Africa and the hosts. Full squad: Emmanuel Stewart – captain (Windward Islands, Grenada), Kirstan Kallicharan – vice-captain (Trinidad & Tobago), Ronaldo Alimohamed (Guyana), Alick Athanaze (Windward Islands, Dominica), Cephas Cooper (Trinidad & Toba-
Topp XX blitz Kwakwani...
XX asserted themselves well and gained some momentum, which saw them take the lead in the 49th minute. Under pressure the Strikers goalkeeper was unable to collect a square ball from Topp XX’s Andre Meyers cleanly as the ball slipped through his grasp. Topp XX’s second goal was created through Duquan Hercules as he raced down the left flank to cross to the top of the 18-yard box where Travis Waterton collected and with a single motion gave the Kwakwani goalkeeper no chance, for a Topp XX 2-0 advantage in the 63rd minute. Still in control against a
game Kwakani unit Topp XX secured their third goal. This time the promising Hercules cut in from the left wing and after beating two defenders was heading goal-wards inside the box where he was brought down. Ryan Noel took the resultant penalty to score in the 78th minute and Topp XX eventually triumphed by a 3-0 score-line in their Group A match. The second game saw the Eagles United team being held at bay from a spirited young Hi Stars team who matched their opponents with some brave match-ups early in the game. The first half was somewhat closely contested. In the second
session in the 50th minute, Eagles United’s Kellon Primo went deep inside right and in trying to pierce inside the 18 yards box, his marker kept his watch as they shouldered each other. As Primo targeted inside, the assistant referee raised her flag which suggested a foul being committed by his defender. Referee Shavin Green pointed to the penalty spot and Trenton Lashley made no mistake to send his side into a 1-0 lead. Thereafter things intensified with aggressive play on both ends of the field and this ended up with players bringing the game into disrepute. The match officials then decided to abandon the game
go), Jarion Hoyte (Barbados), Kimani Melius (Windward Islands, St Lucia), Ashmead Nedd (Guyana), Kian Pemberton (Leeward Islands, St Kitts & Nevis), Raymond Perez (Guyana), Joshua Persaud (Guyana), Jeavor Royal (Jamaica), Keagan Simmons (Trinidad & Tobago), Bhaskar Yadram (Guyana) and Nyeem Young (Barbados).
From Back Page with just about five minutes remaining and Eagles United ahead, 1-0, as fans witnessed the sudden clash of fists on the field between opposing players. Guyana’s Refereeing Council head Stanley Lancaster who was present commented that an informed ruling on the state of the game would be made after the Referee’s Report is obtained from referee Shavin Green. Tomorrow two more matches will be played at 19:00hrs when Blueberry Hill and Amelia’s Ward Panthers clash. At 21:00hrs Topp XX will again be in action when they face reigning champions Silver Shattas.
Charles hundred puts Rangur Riders into BPL final
Johnson Charles
DHAKA, Bangladesh, (CMC) – West Indies opener Johnson Charles stroked his maiden Twenty20 hundred to propel Chris Gayle’s Rangpur Riders to a 36-run over Comilla Victorians and into Tuesday’s final of the Bangladesh Premier League(BPL). The right-hander, with a mere 38 runs from four previous knocks in tournament, chose the ideal time to unveil his best of an unbeaten 105, as Riders tallied 192 for three off their 20 overs. Playing at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday, Charles belted nine fours and seven sixes in a 63-ball knock while New Zealander Brendon McCullum blasted 78 from from 46 deliveries, with a four and nine spectacular sixes. Sent in, Riders suffered a massive blow when superstar opener Chris Gayle departed for three in the fifth over but Charles and McCullum came togeth-
er in a 151-run, second wicket stand to drive the innings. Charles raced to his half-century off 34 balls before reaching three figures off another 28 deliveries, when he struck the penultimate ball of the innings from medium pacer Mohammad Saifuddin to the point boundary. In reply, Charles’s Windies teammate, Marlon Samuels, could only muster 27 from 30 balls as Victorians struggled to 156 all out off their 20 overs. Liton Das top-scored with 39 in a opening stand of 54 with Tamim Iqbal (36) but once they were separated the innings failed to find momentum again. Samuels, batting at number five, struck two fours and a six but perished at the end of the 18th over, caught at short fine leg by Charles off Ravi Bopara’s medium pace. Riders will face Dhaka Dynamites in the final
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday December 12, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jason Holder (2) Matt Henry Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI is currently playing in the second Test against NZ but did not play in the first game? (2) Which NZ is currently playing in the second Test against WI but did not play in the first game?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue