 Guyana qualified for the Champions League T20 by beating Barbados in the final of the Caribbean T20. Thus, they became the tenth and the final team to
qualify for this year's Champions League T20, that will be played in South Africa.
Last ball finishes have always been the mother of all battles. Though still
considered as minnows in the International Circuit, the Caribbean T20 Cup finalists,
Guyana and Barbados made sure the outing had all ingredients for a big match.
And as the Guyanese middle order fell like a pack of cards, it was left to 19
year old Jonathan Foo to snatch a miracle victory out of the blue.
Winning the toss, Barbados captain Hinds opted to bat first. Aggressive attacking
tactics used by the Barbados openers guided them to a rollicking start. After
being whacked all over the ground for his wayward line and length strike bowler
Cush managed to dismiss his tormentor Richards for a quick fire 9 ball 16. But
by then the score had reached 27 from mere 3 overs.
Carter came in next and slammed the ball around to unbeaten on 57 from 62 balls
as Barbados managed a competitive 134 from their twenty overs losing five wickets
in the process. Devendra Bishoo was the pick of the Guyanese bowlers
as he scalped two wickets for fourteen runs in his stipulated four overs.
The Guyanese approach to this dramatic chase started off with a nervy and sluggish
start. Starting off initially in the innings with a conservative approach they
paid a heavy price for it as their opening pair of Dowlin and Chattergoon crawled
to scores of eight and nine from 17 and 15 balls respectively. At the time of
dismissal of the opening pair the Guyanese scoreline read 17 from 23 balls.
The asking rate escalated to an alarming over eight in their last twelve overs.
Right arm off-break bowler Ashley Nurse made things tougher for the Guyanese
as he dismissed the middle order cheaply and ensured that a sense of caution
and conservative approach was retained as the Guyanese started trading in singles
and two's.
And the very moment Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine started
to show some intent in giving a fight, Ashley Nurse claimed both of them.
When Foo came into bat, 59 runs were required off the last five overs. Foo
began his onslaught and along with Dwayne Smith took the fight to the
opposition lofting and hooking the bowlers all over the field, though there
wasn't any sense of urgency felt from the Barbados bowlers.
With nine wickets down and 26 required from 11 balls this was a tough trick
to pull out even for the in -form Foo. He replied with two consecutive sixes
off Nurse. Larry Babb dropped Foo at the deep and along with it Barbados' chances
of a title win. Foo scored a 17 ball 42 studded with 4 fours and 3 sixes as
Guyana clinched a one wicket thriller and ensured their place at the Champions
League T20.
Last year, it was Trinidad and Tobago who had qualified for the Champions
League T20.
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