By Avenash Ramzan
Right-arm seamer Tremayne Dequette Smartt turns 37 in September, and her vast experience has proven to be a great asset to Guyana in the ongoing Cricket West Indies CG United Women’s tournament at the National Stadium, Providence.
Smartt, who made her international debut for West Indies in 2009 and last played at that level in 2018, bowled with great rhythm and precision on Tuesday as Guyana clashed with the Leeward Islands in a virtual quarter-final of the Super50 Cup.
The veteran of 57 One-Day Internationals and 58 T20 Internationals rocked the islanders top order, returning immaculate figures of 4-12 off 10 overs, two of which were maidens.
With excellent support from the young Cherry-Ann Fraser, who claimed 3-19, Guyana dismissed Leeward Islands for 76 and then coasted to an eight-wicket victory in 14.3 overs to secure a semi-final spot against Jamaica on Thursday.
For Smartt, keeping things simple has been the key to her success this season. It helps that all matches are being played at the National Stadium, Providence.
“The key to doing well on this pitch is bowling wicket to wicket,” she told News Room Sport after the game.
“If the batter miss, you hit. It’s just about nagging away in terms of line and length and dot balls and build pressure.”
With Guyana in a must-win game on Tuesday to qualify for the ‘final four’, Smartt and Fraser had Leeward Islands in shambles at 18-7, before the last three wickets put together 58 runs.
“We had a lower total in mind, but it just didn’t happen, so at the end of the day we just need to go back and work more in terms of the areas that we slack down on,” Smartt reasoned.
In the preceding T20 Blaze competition, Smartt picked up just two in four innings at an average of 26.5, but she had an impressive economy rate of 3.79.
Like all other female cricketers across the region, Smartt was playing at the regional level for the first time since 2019 after the COVID-19 curtailed the 2020 and 2021 editions of the tournament.
During that lengthy layoff, Smartt had been utilising her yard space to do personal drills to stay active, with the hope of making an immediate impact when on-field action resumed.
“After the COVID in 2019, I ended up doing things right in my home and in my yard- bowling in terms of my line and length, batting as well and fielding just to keep myself active.”
Guyana’s Head Coach Julian Moore was understandably elated with the success of his fast bowling spearhead.
“It goes to show that experience matters. Experience matters in tournaments like these and she has been putting her hand up as one of the senior players and really coming out and giving 100%,” Moore told News Room Sport on Tuesday.
When Smartt takes the field against Jamaica on Thursday, the veteran player would be aiming to come good again as the Guyanese continue to hunt for a maiden Women’s regional title.
If that materialises, it would be a fitting tribute to the Rose Hall Town player who has given yeoman service to Guyana’s cricket.
GOOD JOB