South Australia win despite Sarwan's fighting knock

Sarwan hit eight boundaries and two sixes in his 46-ball 70 to lead a Guyana fightback after they were set an imposing target of 192 by South Australia at the New Wanderers stadium, here.

But the right-hand batsman didn't get enough support at the other end. Barring Richard Ramdeen (35) and Steven Jacobs (32) and Lennox Cush (12), none of the other batsmen were able to reach double figures as Guyana succumbed to their fourth defeat. Earlier, Callum Ferguson smashed a 37-ball 55 and Cameron Borgas blasted a 36-ball 48 to power South Australia to a challenging 191 after being put into bat.

For South Australia, Daniel Harris scalped three for 33 to lead the pack of wicket-takers. Daniel Christian took two wickets, while Jake Haberfield and Aaron O'Brien chipped in with one each.

Chasing 192 to win, Guyana lost its first wicket in the second over when Travis Dowlin was trapped plumb in front of by Jake Haberfield. Opener Richard Ramdeen and Ramnaresh Sarwan then added 42 runs for the second wicket before the former was sent packing by Christian in the last ball of the seventh over as Guyana slumped to 51 for two.

Sarwan then lead the fight back and forged a 56-run partnership with Steven Jacobs (32) but the latter couldn't stay longer and was dismissed by O'Brien. He was caught by Tom Cooper at short third man.

Christopher Barnwell (1) was also dismissed cheaply but Sarwan ensured that Guyana stayed in the hunt as he added another 22 runs in 13 balls with Jonathan Foo (5) and 20 with Derwin Christain (3) before holing out to Cooper in the 18th over. Cush and Fudadin (7) tried their bit but it was too little too late in the end as there was no end to Guyana's miseries.

Earlier, Ferguson, who hit three fours and a six, shared a 88-run fourth wicket partnership with Borgas after they were reduced to 41 for three in 5.3 overs at one point. For Guyana, Paul Wintz and Devendra Bishoo took two wickets each giving away 11 and 29 runs respectively, while Christopher Barnwell and Assad Fudadin accounted for one wicket each.

Michael Klinger (16) and Daniel Harris (5) gave South Australia a good start with the former hitting a couple of fours off Barnwell. Harris also blasted Wintz for a boundary in the next over but the bowler had the last laugh as he induced an inside edge which crashed onto his stumps.

However, Barnwell continued to be in the firing line as newman Graham Manou played a perfect cover drive to pick up his first boundary, while Klinger sent him across the boundary in the fifth over. But Klinger was sent packing one ball later with Fudadin taking a nice running catch at midwicket.

Manou then picked up successive fours off Barnwell, before being cleaned up by Wintz in the next over as South Australia slipped to 41 for three in 5.3 overs. Ferguson and Borgas then joined hands and straight away got into the act, picking up a four each off Bishoo and Lennox Cush respectively.

With the bowlers bowling in tandem, boundaries dried up as the duo indulged in singles and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking. After four overs where not much was scored, Borgas picked up a boundary to bring up their 50-run stand in the 13th over, before Ferguson blasted a six and a four off Steven Jacobs to step up the gas.

Borgas then pulled Cush for a six over mid-wicket and then picked up a boundary off Fudadin, before being outwitted by the bowler, who bowled a faster delivery to rock his woods.

The 17th over yielded 22 runs with Ferguson going ballistic, hitting two fours and a six in the last three deliveries and newman Daniel Christian hitting a six in the first ball.
Ferguson finally dismissed in the 19th over, when his slog sweep landed in Jacobs' lap at deep square leg.

Christian also holed out at deep mid-wicket but Aaron O'Brien and Tom Cooper dealt some lusty blows to swell the total.