Guyana cruises to final

Sunday, October 31 2004

THE 2004 PRESIDENTS CUP
2nd Semifinal

Windward Islands vs. Guyana
Windward Cricket Ground, Lucus Street, St. Philip, Barbados

Toss: Trinidad and Tobago

Guyana cruised past the disappointing Windward Islands to reach the final of the 2004 West Indies One Day tournament. Unbeaten half-centuries from Narsingh Deonarine and Lennox Cush accounted for a recovery from 25/2 as Guyana chased the 174/9 scored by the Windwards.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul won the toss and inserted his opponents. Openers Junior Murray (27) and Devon Smith (24) added 51 runs from the first wicket, but both got out after getting good starts. Indeed that was to be the theme of innings for the Windwards. Craig Emmanuel (34) and Darren Sammy (28) contributed usefully, but the rest of the middle order collapsed to the Guyanese spin.

Sharing 7 wickets were Cush (3/21), Nagamootoo (2/37) and Deonarine (2/36) and the Windward Islands were limited to 143/9 at one point. Even Chanderpaul chipped in with the ball, as he dismissed Roland Wilkinson (0) over the course of his 3-0-14-1. Deighton Butler (15 not out) and Orlanzo Jackson (15 not out) then combined for a 31-run partnership, unbroken for the tenth wicket. West Indies pacer of yesteryear, Reon King bowled 5 overs and took 1 for 27.

Early wickets were lost in the Guyana chase and Sammy (1 for 42) and Butler (1 for 21) had Sewnarine Chattergoon (4) and Krishna Arjune (8) respectively. That would be limit of Windwards joy with the ball though. Deonarine and Cush combined for a sensible stand of 150, laced with urgent and aggressive strokes at the end.

The left-handed Deonarine faced 131 balls and scored 83 not out with 8 fours and 2 sixes, whilst his right-handed counterpart hit 4 boundaries and took 118 balls for his 63.

Guyana now face Trinidad and Tobago in the final on Sunday.

Windward Islands innings 174/9 (50 overs)
Craig Emmanuel 34, Darren Sammy 28, Junior 27
Lennox Cush 3/21 (10), Narsingh Deonarine 2/36 (10), Mahendra Nagamootoo 2/37 (10)

Guyana innings 175/2 (45 overs)
Narsingh Deonarine 83 not out, Lennox Cush 63 not out
Deighton Butler 1/21 (7), Darren Sammy 1/42 (9)

Result: Guyana won by 8 wickets
Man of the Match: Lennox Cush

Posted by Liam