Chanderpaul

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Shivnarine Chanderpaul's unexplained absence on the second day of Guyana's final round Carib Beer Series match against Windward Islands on Sunday, created quite a fuss.

Unbeaten on 78 overnight, after Guyana had reached 312 for three on Saturday, the left-handed Chanderpaul was a no-show and match officials said no explanation had been offered for the player's absence.

It was later revealed that Chanderpaul had left Guyana to attend the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) awards function in Trinidad and Tobago and was expected to return yesterday.

Neither Guyana manager Carl Moore nor coach Albert Smith could offer an explanation for Chanderpaul's absence, a situation that left Windwards manager, Lockhart Sebastien, upset.

"This is not a curry goat match, this is a first-class encounter and things like this are allowed to happen and we wonder why West Indies cricket is in the state that it is in," Sebastien said.

"Chanderpaul told Devon (Smith) yesterday (Saturday) that he was here just to take a knock but we assumed he was joking. If he knew he had to leave then he should not have played and given one of the others youngsters a chance."

Dependable

Coach Smith said he had not been aware that Chanderpaul had planned to 'give up' his wicket, adding that Chanderpaul had been a part of the selection of the final XI.

"He is our most dependable batsman and has done so much for West Indies cricket as a top-class batsman, but if he knew he was just using this game for some practice and would then leave the guys, he should have at least informed me as the coach and maybe allowed one of the youngsters to play," the long-serving official said.

When the Windwards started their reply after lunch on Sunday, they refused to allow the Guyanese a substitute fielder.

A senior Guyana Cricket Board official said the Board would investigate why match officials were not informed about Chanderpaul's absence, from Guyana team officials.

Meanwhile Guyana, trailing by 71 runs on first innings, reached 29 for one against the Windward Islands at the close on the third day of their final round Carib Beer Series match at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday.

And Trinidad & Tobago earned the right to defend their Carib Beer Challenge title when they scored a commanding 250-run win over Barbados on the final day of their final round match, yesterday.

Playing at Guaracara Park, off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth captured seven for 45 to finish with match figures of 10 for 79, as Barbados, set 452 for victory, surrendered meekly for 201. The result means that T&T cricketers will defend their Challenge Shield title against league champions Jamaica, in the April 24-28 match in Jamaica.

AT CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Leeward Islands were denied a likely victory over Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) after persistent rain forced the complete abandonment of the final day of their final round match at Grove Park, yesterday.

The match finished in a draw with Leewards taking away first innings points. At the close of play on Sunday, Leewards seemed poised to pull off a commanding win over CCC after setting them a massive victory target of 557. CCC finished the day at 99 for two, still requiring a further 458 runs to reach their target.