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Day 1: Patient Guyana progress to 218-4

Philip Hackett at Queen's Park

Guyana 218-4 vs T&T

Patience was the key word as Narsingh Deonarine meticulously laid the foundation for a sizeable Guyana first innings total against steady but hardly penetrative Trinidad bowling.

In an innings which has so far spanned 85 overs, Deonarine's unbeaten 79 was the backbone of Guyana's effort on a lifeless first-day pitch.

Seldom showing the fluency associated with a player of his class, Deonarine more than compensated for this with the diligence and discipline normally expected of a more experienced campaigner.

His concentration waned towards the end of the day, particularly against the second new ball, but he was able to overcome this hurdle and survive a total of 330 minutes and 257 balls.

Of his eight fours, few would have been as classy as a flick through mid-wicket off medium-pacer Chris Magram.

But it was his application to the task moreso than his strokeplay, which was the main feature of Deonarine's innings.

Coming to the crease at 23 for one in the sixth over, he soon lost Damodar Dasrat, lbw to the troublesome off-spinner Rodney Sooklal at 42 for two.

Roopnarine Ramgobin helped Deonarine add 86 for the third wicket, the two being together at lunch with Guyana 76 for two.

The partnership almost survived to tea but shortly before rain forced an early tea break Ramgobin was caught by Sherwin Ganga off Zaheer Ali for 34.

His innings, which included three boundaries, lasted over 2-1/2 hours and 125 balls.

Khaleem Bux was with Deonarine when tea was taken at 132 for three and the pair ensured they would be no collapse with another half-century stand.

Bux always appeared on the hunt for runs and seemed to be getting into stride with an elegant cover drive off Magram for four, but two balls later Magram won an lbw decision.

Bux's 33 included just one four and a six off 71 deliveries in 77 minutes.

Deonarine and Baksh found scoring difficult over the final hour with Baksh contributing 12 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 27 in 64 minutes.

The new ball, taken in the 87th over at 208 for four, failed to make the breakthrough Trinidad were looking for, but a testing opening session awaits the overnight pair when play resumes this morning.

Day 2: Trinidad launch bold chase

Philip Spooner at Queen's Park

Guyana 308-9 dec. vs Trinidad and Tobago 212-4

Sparkling batting by the top order has put Trinidad and Tobago in with an excellent chance of advancing to the final Nortel Networks Youth Cricket Championship.

The strokeplay of left-handers Aneil Kanhai and Chris Magram was breathtaking as they attacked Guyana's spin attack in perfect batting conditions. They have put Trinidad and Tobago within sight of first innings lead and a trip to the final at Kensington Oval on Saturday.

The battle lines were drawn at lunch when Guyana declared, after moving from their overnight position of 218 for four.

Narsingh Deonarine, 79 at the start, reached 131 before being run out - the only way it seemed possible that his solid innings could end.

The slim left-hander is definitely a player for the future as his innings of 7 1/2 hours confirmed. He had 13 fours off 328 balls, and follows his unbeaten 142 against Barbados last Saturday. He is now the tournament's leading batsman with 415 runs.

If Deonarine was cautious, then the Trinidadians were the complete opposite. They launched a bold attack in an afternoon of constant entertainment.

Kanhai, blessed with one of cricket's finest names, did it justice. He showed expert timing in striking eight fours and a six in 217 minutes at the crease. He added a run-a-ball 118 for the second wicket with the portly Magram who slammed 54 off 102 balls.

After Magram was trapped lbw by seamer Domodar Dasrat - the eighth bowler used - captain Zaheer Ali batted solidly for 27 not out to ensure his side kept the momentum and stayed in control.

Ali, a pocket-sized version of Brian Lara, stroked the ball freely, including a memorable extra-cover drive which beat three fielders to the boundary.

On entering the 90s, Kanhai suddenly looked nervous and perished in his only moment of mis-judgement. Turning for a second run, he was left stranded when a brilliant throw from Deonath Baskh at deep square-leg broke the stumps.

Guyana sensed an opportunity and, next ball, slow bowler Hemnarine Harrinarine produced an excellent delivery to have night-watchman Krissendath Persad well caught by 'keeper Imran Khan Hussain.

This ended a day of fine cricket which produced over 300 runs. If the players can produce a better day's play today, cricket would surely be the winner.

Day 3: Trinis in final

Philip Spooner at Queens Park

Guyana 308-9 dec and 25-0; Trinidad and Tobago 396

A solid century stand between Zaheer Ali and Gregory Mahabir ensured that Trinidad and Tobago gained a berth in the final of the Nortel Networks tournament.

Needing just first innings lead to advance to the Kensington Oval championship match tomorrow, the pair made sure that the brilliant batting done by the top order on Wednesday was not wasted.

Ali, 27 overnight, and Mahabir, who started the day, added 125 for the fifth wicket as the Trinbagonians continued in the same vein as the previous day.

Resuming from their overnight 212 for four, Trinidad added 42 runs in the first session despite two stoppages of 51 minutes to rain. Ali was 43 and Mahabir, 22.

After the break, the left-handed pair stepped up the tempo as they motored towards the target. The lead was achieved an hour after lunch when Ali collected two runs from a misfield at backward square-leg.

This took Ali, a mature and attractive stroke-maker, to 69 and immediately the Trinidad camp celebrated. With tea approaching Mahabir, who looked solid as well, presented a simple caught and bowl to slow bowler Kevin Bazil. Mahabir struck five fours in his knock which came off 173 balls in 167 minutes.

Ali, who looked set for a century, fell for 88 moments after Mahabir departed. He hit four fours and a powerful leg-side six in a 240-ball knock.

Later, allrounder Rayad Emrit thumped three sixes in 33 as Trinidad stretched their lead to 88. Bazil was the best bowler with three for 55 as Guyana failed to limit their opponents.

Trinidad and Tobago now have their best chance of taking the Nortel title since 1987.

It is a very happy moment, said manager Tony Gray. To see guys batting diligently and intelligently is heartening.

Captain Ali is already dreaming of holding the Nortel Trophy on Tuesday. I am very confident, he said.

Guyana manager Carl Moore conceded that it was disappointing that Guyana would finish the three-day tournament as losers for the first time since 1991, when Barbados were the winners in Jamaica.