U-13: Bajans force decider with fourth game win over Guyana

They say catches win matches!

And had Guyana grasped the many opportunities that came their way on Wednesday at Everest, they would have won the five-match Under-13 series against Barbados with a game to spare.

The home side’s lackluster performance in the field while defending a relatively small total meant the series is now level 2-2 with the Bajans winning the last two games and heading into Friday’s decider bubbling with confidence, and momentum on their side.

Rain interruptions shaved five overs off the original 40 Guyana had to bat and they made 119-8.

Barbados, set a revised target of 106 from 26 overs after some afternoon showers, got home by seven wickets in 22.5 overs.

The victory- second on the trot for the Bajans- sparked new life into a series that was seemingly heading one way when Guyana comfortably won the first two matches.

Gajnabi, Khan only batting resistance

Invited to bat first after Barbados won the toss, Guyana laboured to 13-2 by the 10^th over with openers Deshawn Ramnauth (one off 29) and Daniel Johnson (two off 16) both dismissed after being in ultra-defensive mode.

It took a 66-run partnership for the third wicket between skipper Sahid Gajnabi and Afraz Khan to give the innings momentum, but once they were dismissed Guyana lost wickets in a cluster at the backend.

Gajnabi faced 56 balls for his 28 (2x4s), while Khan followed his top score of 39 in the last game with a fighting 28 off 69 (3x4s). Adrian Emmanuel, more known for his bowling exploits, was the only other player to reach double-figure for Guyana with 13 off 19 (1×4).

Bowling for Barbados, Kijani Inniss took 3-14, Anahri Hinds 2-28, Liam Sookram 1-14 and Natarie Lavine 1-17.

Dropped catches cost Guyana

With an opportunity to close out the series the Guyanese needed to bring their A-game in defending the revised target, but they did quite the opposite, spilling several catches.

Naturally, their lopsided effort in the field was much to the chagrin of their vocal supporters beyond the ropes.

The successful run-chase was anchored by opener Jon-David Greene with an unbeaten 27 off 62, while the in-form Natarie Lavine struck four fours in 31 off 40, getting to 150 runs in the series.

The left-handed Lavine is just behind Guyanese Lomar Seecharran, who is the leading scorer with 161 runs after scores of 79 and 82* in the first two games.

Bowling for Guyana, the diminutive left-arm spinner Jaden Ganpat impressed with 1-17 from six overs, while seamer Khan finished with identical figures from his three overs.

The series decider will take on Friday from 10:00h at Everest.

Results

• Game One: Guyana won by seven wickets at Lusignan
• Game Two: Guyana won by nine wickets at Lusignan
• Game Three: Barbados won by three wickets at Lusignan
• Game Four: Barbados won by seven wickets
• Game Five: Series decider at Everest on December 19