Caribbean Sports Network

NEW regional T20 champions will be crowned tonight after Trinidad and Tobago lost a nail-biting semi-final by four runs to Guyana yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. Poor fielding proved the difference with Trinidad and Tobago dropping at least five catches which came back to haunt them in a crucial match of the regional championship.

In last night’s other semi-final Jamaica played Barbados with the winner meeting Guyana tonight from 8 pm in the final. Trinidad and Tobago will play the loser for the third from 4 pm today.

Guyana’s victory was set up by Travis Dowlin who was dropped three times in a devastating knock of 59 from 39 balls which included two boundaries and four massive sixes.

He shared in half century partnerships with Sewnarine Chattergoon and Esuan Crandon as Guyana made a formidable total of 175 for seven from their 19 overs after one over was lost due to a late start caused by heavy rainfall.

Trinidad and Tobago made a valiant run chase with “Man-of-the-Match” Dwayne Bravo and Adrian Barath scoring half centuries. However, it was not enough as the national team were all out for 171 with one ball to spare.

Guyana off-spinner Royston Crandon took four for 37.

Needing 14 runs from the final over wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin slogged Crandon’s (R) first delivery through wide long-on four a boundary.

But Ramdin and Dave Mohammed were then dismissed with the next two deliveries as Guyana surged ahead. Skipper Daren Ganga then late cut Crandon (R) in the fourth delivery of the match to leave the national team needing six runs from two balls.

The Guyanese off-spinner then bowled a wide to raise the hopes of the home supporters but made amends in his next delivery trapping Ganga leg before wicket for seven.

Earlier Opening batsman Adrian Barath played a responsible innings as Trinidad and Tobago made a cautious start to their run chase. The West Indies batsman kept the score ticking against the well balanced Guyanese attack before being caught by Ramnaresh Sarwan after getting a top edge off Christoper Barnwell.

He made 54 from 44 balls and his dismissal had the national team floundering at 105 for five. “Man-of-the-Match” Bravo led the Trinidad and Tobago fight back with a devastating innings.

He scored 55 from 20 balls which comprised one boundary and six sixes, slamming Barnwell for 27 runs in the 17th over and raised hopes of an unlikely come from behind win.

However he was caught on the long-off boundary by Jonathan Foo attempting another big hit off Crandon (R).

Dowlin and Sewnarine Chattergoon had given Guyana a good start with a solid opening partnership of 51 runs from 41 balls. Chattergoon was the early aggressor, dispatching pacer Navin Stewart for a boundary and a six in his first over as the visitors took the early momentum.

The left-handed Chattergoon continued to dominate the partnership landing several lusty blows against off-spinner Sherwin Ganga before medium pacer Lendl Simmons had him caught by wicketkeeper Ramdin for 36.

Dowlin soon found his stride and rode his luck being dropped four times in a critical knock which was the catalyst for Guyana’s imposing total. The Guyana opening batsman was in ruthless form dispatching left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed for two massive sixes in the ninth over. With Crandon (E), he continued the aggressive batting, sharing in a second wicket partnership that yielded 76 runs. Dowlin knock came to an end after edging Kieron Pollard to Ramdin.

Teams —

Trinidad and Tobago: Daren Ganga (captain), William Perkins, Adrian Barath, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Sherwin Ganga, Navin Stewart, Dave Mohammed.

Guyana: Ramnaresh Sarwan (Captain), Travis Dowlin, Narsingh Deonarine, Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Esuan Crandon, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Royston Crandon, Jonathan Foo, Lennox Cush, Derwin Christian.

QUEEN’S PARK
SCOREBOARD

TRINIDAD/TOBAGO VS GUYANA
Guyana Innings
T Dowlin c S Ganga b DJ Bravo 59
S Chattergoon c Ramdin b Simmons 36
E Crandon c Perkins b Pollard 30
C Barnwell c Simmons b Pollard 14
J Foo b Pollard 14
R Crandon c Ramdin b Pollard 5
D Christian not out 3
R Sarwan run out 6
EXTRAS (B1, LB1, W5, NB1) 8
TOTAL (7 wickets) 175
Overs – 19
Fall of wickets: 51; 127; 132; 161; 166; 166; 175.
Did not bat: Lennox Cush, Devendra Bishoo, Narsingh Deonarine.
BOWLING: DJ Bravo 4-0-33-1 (W1); Stewart 4-0-38-0 (NB1, W2); S Ganga 2-0-16-0; Simmons 3-0-33-1; Mohammed 2-0-22-0; Pollard 4-0- 31-4 (W2).

Trinidad/Tobago Innings
W Perkins c Foo b R Crandon 10
A Barath c Sarwan b Barnwell 54
L Simmons c & b Bishoo 6
DM Bravo c Sarwan b R Crandon 9
K Pollard c Foo b Bishoo 15
DJ Bravo c Foo b Cush 55
N Stewart b Bishoo 1
D Ganga LBW b R Crandon 7
D Ramdin b R Crandon 4
D Mohammed c E Crandon b R Crandon 0
S Ganga not out 0
EXTRAS (B1, W9) 10
TOTAL (All out) 171
Overs – 18.5
Fall of wickets: 15; 47; 74; 102; 105; 109; 162; 166; 166; 171.
BOWLING: E Crandon 3-0-16-1 (W1); Cush 3-0-35-1 (W1); Barnwell 4-0-46-1 (W2); Bishoo 4-0-25-3; R Crandon 3.5-0-37-4 (W1); Deonarine 1-0-11-0.