Guyana begin title defence with win From Sean Devers in St. Lucia
Stabroek News
August 17, 2002
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Defending champions Guyana opened their 2002 Red Stripe Bowl defence with a 28-run victory over Canada at the Beausequor Stadium here yesterday in another low scoring Zone `B' encounter.

Electing to bat first on a slow outfield and two-paced track which helped the bowlers, Guyana struggled to score freely eventually reaching 188-9 when their 50 overs expired.

Skipper Carl Hooper and fellow test player Ramnaresh Sarwan scored 40 each in difficult conditions for stroke-play while off-spinner John Davison continued his good form in the competition by bagging 4-43. He got good support from pacer Davis Joseph (3-33).

Canada were dismissed for 160 in 47.5 overs despite a fighting top score of 33 from skipper Joseph Harris and a blistering 25 from Joseph towards the end.

West Indies leg spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo picked up 3-30 from 9.5 overs while Hooper had 2-31 as the experienced Guyana bowling attack ensured victory.

BRAVE START

Canada started bravely with the ultra aggressive former Guyana opener Fazil Sattaur going after the bowling from the get go.

Sattar, who last played for Guyana in 1994, came off the mark with a savage pull for four as Colin Stuart tested him with a bouncer. He smashed four boundaries in his 34-ball 21 before he got an inside edge to a ball which cut back from Reon King and was bowled.

Left handed opener Ishwar Maraj reached the boundary twice in his 22 from 48 balls before chopping Nagamootoo onto his stumps attempting to cut while Desmond Chummey (4) was bowled by left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell.

Bagai (6) was run out 14 runs later while Hooper struck twice in one over removing DeGroot (11) and Davison (0).

Joseph entertained the small crowd with some mighty hitting striking three sixes and a four before eventually skying Nagamootoo miles into the air for the substitute Gonsalves to take the catch at mid on.

SARWAN STRUGGLED

Earlier, Guyana's batsmen struggled to get the ball away with Sarwan taking 28 balls to come off the mark.

Sarwan, with 17 one-day-internationals under his belt, was asked to open the batting in place of regular opener Andrew Gonsalves who along with Travis Dowlin and Reon Griffith were left out.

Chattergoon hit three boundaries before driving a full toss to Sattaur at cover 21 as pacer Austin Codrington made the break through.

Chanderpaul joined Sarwan and the test pair took the score to 85 before Davison had Chanderpaul neatly stumped by Ashish Bajai for 25.

Chanderpaul faced 87 balls and along with Sarwan put together 64 for the second wicket but the run rate increased when Hooper joined Sarwan.

Sarwan, reached the boundary twice and cleared it once in his 82 ball knock but was lucky to have been let off twice off the bowling of left-arm spinner Barry Seebarran.

He was dropped on the deep mid wicket boundary on 11, the ball rebounding from Davis Joseph's hands and going for six and then mis-stumped on 17 by Bagai, who had an otherwise outstanding day behind the stumps with four dismissals.

BATSMEN PERISH

Lennox Cush, 20 from 23 balls with a four and a six, Narsingh Deonarine (2) and Neil McGarrell (2) all perished in quick succession in the hunt for quick runs.

Vishal Nagamootoo batted intelligently to end on 15 not out.

Degroot (1-29) and Codrington (1-31) supported Davison and Joseph well although Guyana's modest score was the highest total recorded so far in this zone.

Chanderpaul was off the field for the entire Canada innings suffering from a fever. Manager Pat Legall said the illness was not serious and added that the test left hander should be ready to play in Guyana's second game tomorrow.

The competition continues today with Trinidad and Tobago taking on Antigua and Barbuda at Beauseqour. Guyana go into action again tomorrow against the Rest of the Windwards.

Specialist opener Andrew Gonsalves, Travis Dowlin and Reon Griffith were left out of the final eleven.