Sports Pundit
Cricket

Redbacks overcome Guyana to win all

The South Australia Redbacks maintained their perfect record and entered the semi finals as table toppers from Group B.

The South Australia Redbacks maintained their perfect record and entered the semi finals as table toppers from Group B. It was the fourth consecutive loss for Guyana which condemned to the last place in the group. Another excellent innings in vain>

The Redbacks batted first and posted a huge total of 191 from their 20 overs, mainly due to an excellent half century from Callum Ferguson. The knock also won him the man of the match award. To their credit, Guyana did come close and finished on 176. A brilliant innings of 76 from Ramnaresh Sarwan brought them close to the target, but lack of contributions from the lower order stopped them from reaching it. Well played>

Guyana won the toss and chose to field on a beautiful batting wicket at the New Wanderers stadium at Johannesburg. Paul Wintz justified his captain’s decision by picking up the wickets of Daniel Harris and Graham Manou early. Christopher Barnwell was expensive on the other end, but managed to pick up the wicket of the in form Michael Klinger.

However, an 88 run partnership for the fourth wicket between Ferguson and Cameron Borgas in just ten overs got the Redbacks to a good position. Ferguson made 55 off just 37 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes. He was offered excellent support by Borgas, who made 48 off just 36 balls, hitting three fours and one six. The running between the wickets was excellent between the two.

When Borgas was dismissed in the 16th over, the Redbacks were 129/ 5 and it looked as if the innings would go either way. However, two superb cameos from Daniel Christian and Tom Cooper took them in the right track. They got 39 off the last three overs.

Shaun Tait missed the game because of an injury and he was missed by the Redbacks. Guyana got off to a bad start as Travis Dowlin got out in single digit, his fourth in four innings.

But that brought Ramnaresh Sarwan to the crease and he got the innings going with Richard Ramdeen. It was Ramdeen who was the initiator as he went after both the opening bowlers. He made 35 off just 22 balls and he was dismissed in the seventh over. Steven Jacobs, who had played well in the last game, joined Sarwan and another partnership blossomed for Guyana. Jacobs got out for 32, in the 13th over and this started the slide for Guyana.

Finally, their chances ended when Sarwan was dismissed.