Leewards struggle against Guyana spin

GEORGETOWN: Leeward Islands batsmen struggled with Guyana’s spin and part-time bowlers yesterday, crawling to 234 for five wickets at the close of play in their fourth-round Carib Beer Series regional cricket match.

Resuming at 145 for two at tea, the visitors owed their decent first-innings score to a patient knock from their normally aggressive captain, Stuart Williams, who was unbeaten on 60, and to Shane Jeffers, who was on 63. Other useful contributions came from Alex Adams, who hit 47, Sylvester Joseph, who made 32, and Carl Tuckett, with 26. Guyanese skipper Neil McGarrell, sporting three debutantes in his team, used seven bowlers in trying to restrict the Leewards to a low total, aware that a huge first-innings total could make it difficult to win first-innings points batting on a wicket that is expected to deteriorate in the next few days.

Guyana are yet to record a single point after three away matches, while the Leeward Islands have  nine. But it was newcomer Zaheer Mohamed who stole the show for the Guyana bowling attack, taking three for 62 from 23 overs of offspin. Part-timer Travis Dowlin took one for 18 from 11 overs. Mohamed, batsman Leon Johnson and bowler Damodar Daesrath were included in the team on Wednesday at the expense of West Indies leg spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo and regulars Lennox Cush and Andre Percival.