Guyana lost to Canada through inexperience - Butts
By Faizool Deo
Stabroek News
June 23, 2004
Guyana's national team which was defeated by a Canada-based Guyanese team on Sunday in the Western Union Independence Celebrity 40-over Festival Match, at the L'Amoreaux Community Center, was said to have been a bit inexperienced.
Manager and player of the side Clyde Butts, who returned home with the team yesterday morning, said the players who went on the trip were not accustomed to playing on the artificial mat which the match was played on. "I thought that the players were credible, though a lack of inexperience cost us the game. Chasing 205 runs was not out of our reach, playing flat, though, which we are accustomed to was our demise.
"The Canadian side made nine sixes… while we were unable to make one," Butts said.
The former off-spinner who took one wicket in the match was still pleased with the team's overall performance and attitude to the match. "I am sure the boys had an experience of a life time. They played in front of about 5,500 people and enjoyed it."
Captain of the side first-timer Berbician Sewnarine Chattergoon's performance was dubbed as a great job by the now senior selector Butts, who said he was impressed with the Albion skipper's temperament with the bat and on the field.
Also speaking to Stabroek Sports were the two under-19 players in the side: Captain of the National Under-19 team Zamal Khan and his deputy Zaheer Mohamed.
Both said they were undone by the artificial mat, which bounced and varied the speed while they were batting.
The experience though was the important thing for the duo since they hope to use what they learnt to deal with bouncy pitches in Jamaica where the regional Under-19 competition will be held in August.
In Sunday's match the Canada-based Guyanese team defeated Guyana's side by 25 runs. Batting first they made 205 for nine in their allotted 40 overs, with Ricky Hunte leading the way with 37. He was assisted by Paul Prashad who made 32 and opener Arjune Nandu who made 31.
Bowling for Guyana Damodar Daesrat and Lalchand Persaud finished with two wickets apiece while Quacy Maltay and Butts finished with one each.
When Guyana took the bat, they batted slowly and at the end of their allotted 40 overs were left on 180 for eight with Zaheer Mohamed on 23 and Imran Jefferally on seven.
Leading the side, Sewnarine Chattergoon more or less stabled the innings with a knock of 41, while Lalchand Persaud made 27 and Zamal Khan 24.
Bowling for the overseas-based Guyanese team Eion Katchay finished with three wickets while captain of the side Sunil Dhaniram and Arjune Nanda finished with two wickets apiece.