By Brandon Corlette in Grenada
Guyana Harpy Eagles salvaged a remarkable draw last Saturday in round two of the West Indies Championship against the Windward Islands Volcanoes in Grenada.
The events that occurred on that fourth day, and to an extent across the game, can best be described as “The Great Escape”, and credit is due to Kevin Sinclair and Ronsford Beaton for scripting that thriller. Valiant efforts were turned in by this brave Guyanese duo, who survived for 81 minutes, during which they faced 17.5 overs and added 39 runs for the last wicket.
As the lights began fading at the Grenada National Stadium in St Georges, there were ominous rumblings from the fiery Volcanoes, and four wickets were extracted for a mere six runs, thus reducing Guyana to 211-9 in 73.5 overs. At that stage, many had expected the Windward Islands to “close out the game”.
Guyanese were left hoping that Beaton would stick around long enough with Sinclair, or that the rain would return in torrents, since this game in Grenada had already had 12 rain interruptions across the four days. But when Guyana most needed the rain, the sunny Caribbean climate was in attendance.
Sinclair kept changing his helmet for a floppy hat every over, and Beaton kept seeking medical attention, as the Guyanese seemingly employed every tactic that had some chance of bringing them respite from the pyrotechnics being generated by the Volcanoes.
From the Volcanoes’ perspective, Kenneth Dember even allowed a ball to run into the boundary in order for Beaton to remain on strike. And Sinclair, who ended on a career-best 77 not out, even turned down runs to help the Eagles’ cause.
However, it was a surprise to many when the Volcanoes took the new ball. At that stage, a certain left-arm spinner was in the middle of a dream spell in cleaning up the Harpy Eagles batsmen; he was getting the ball to turn in the footmarks. As the new ball was taken, Sinclair played some crisp shots, dancing down the track to pacer Preston McSween and thumping him for six. Beaton faced 24 balls. In fact, he survived and scored one run.
Then lights began to fade, and the local fans and their Volcanoes icons were disappointed that the Guyanese players had held on for an unlikely draw.
The Essequibian Beaton, having played one of the most important batting innings in his career, said he and Sinclair had had a plan. “It was all about sticking at the crease. Kevin is the more senior batsman in the middle at that time. With his seniority and my experience batting and playing regional cricket for so many years, we just had a simple conversation for him to bat most of the deliveries and I see one or two; but sometimes it did not get off. But at the end of the day, we stuck it out,” Beaton said.
Sinclair, meanwhile, has been very happy to pull off this draw for his team. The Berbician has said he was confident from the time he set foot at the crease. “I went out there confident that we could do it, because we were ahead in terms of runs from balls. I looked to hit the gaps, and stay out there while being patient. The captain sent out a message for us to draw the game, but I believe that we could have pulled it off. Seeing wickets falling around me, I felt that I should just be out there and stay calm and composed to see it through,” he divulged.
“I was telling him (Beaton) to bat. I told him he has a big heart, and to stay with me. I think he did a great job in the way he played and stayed with me; so, credit to him (Beaton),” Sinclair has said.
A win and a draw have certainly encouraged these Guyanese players, their having come into this tournament feeling the heat from the local media. The tournament will break, and resume on March 15. According to reports, Guyana will play their three matches at the National Stadium at Providence, in Guyana. (GTimes)