… Demerara, Essequibo locked in battle

FOLLOWING centuries from national wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble and middle-order batsman Royston Crandon, Berbice were rescued from a perilous position to a formidable one at the end of the first day’s play in their final round Guyana Cricket Board senior Inter-county four-day matchup against the GCB Developmental XI at the Wales Community Centre ground.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first in brilliant sunshine in the contest which began 30 minutes late due to the late preparation of the pitch, Berbice slipped from 70 without loss to 89 for 5, before Crandon and Bramble joined forces and rescued their team.

The duo batted for the entire pre-tea session and 20 minutes after, during which time they added 216 for the sixth wicket, with both batsmen mixing sound aggression with the same level of defence, while posting their individual centuries in the process before being separated, with Crandon making 121 and Bramble 160 to rescue Berbice.
Things started brightly for Berbice, when Seon Hetmyer 40 (7×4) struck Chandrapaul Hemraj for two fours in the second over, after seeing his opening partner Kandasammy Surujnarine 31 (5×4) being given a life in the first over when he was caught by Steven Jacobs at slip, off the lively Kemo Paul, only to see the outstretched arm of the umpire indicating a no-ball.
That was the lone moment for the Developmental XI lineup within the first 90 minutes of the contest, until Shiraz Ramcharran (4 for 126) got Surujnarine to pop up one to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at extra cover at 70 for 1.
From that position, Berbice slipped to 89 for 5, losing Hetmyer, Devon Clements (1)< skipper Narsingh Deonarine (2) and Jonathan Foo whose struggle with the bat in this format of the game continues, as he managed 1, before he was lbw to Steven Sankar (3 for 92) who, in tandem with Ramcharran, ripped through the Ancient County’s top order.
At lunch, Berbice were 106 for 5 with Crandon on 7 which included a six that was struck back over the head of Sankar, and Bramble 8, inclusive of two fours struck off Ramcharran, his Albion Cricket Club teammate.
After the break, Bramble took a liking to Ramcharran, hitting him twice for a hat-trick of fours, posting his first 50 from 45 balls with nine fours while batting for 49 minutes, then watched as Crandon got to his 50 one over later off 56 balls, counting four fours and one six during his 64-minute stay at the wicket.
Crandon then went into over-drive, rattling off boundaries at will, hitting Sankar for another six, his third to move into the 90s, while Bramble got there shortly after with two fours in the following over bowled by Yatesh Dhanpaul.
Crandon was the first to post his century, doing so off 113 balls with six fours and three sixes while batting for 130 minutes and celebrated with his fourth six off Dhanpaul, followed by an authoritative drive through the covers, as Berbice took the tea break on 292 for 5 off 69 overs.
At tea, Crandon was on 112 and Bramble 98, the duo adding 186 runs for the sixth wicket without much trouble from the Developmental XI’s bowling line, while Bramble got his century in the second over after tea, following a halt in play as the scorers objected to executing their work after not being given a meal.
Bramble’s century was scored off 103 balls and included 16 fours while he batted for 136 minutes, before he lost Crandon, shortly after, caught by Tagenarine Chanderpaul off Ramcharran for 121, as he batted for 151 minutes, faced 128 balls and struck eight fours and four sixes in the process.
Bramble was on 102 when Crandon departed and together with Veerasammy Permaul 24 (4×4) pushed the score to 350 and later 407 with Keon Joseph 30 (6×4), reaching his 150 while batting with Joseph, who was run-out going for a second run.
The Developmental XI, through Jacobs, disposed of both Bramble and Raun Johnson (00) to wrap up the innings 11 minutes before the scheduled 17:00hrs close, with Jacobs claiming both wickets in the second over of the second new ball to finish with 2 for 57, in support to Ramcharran and Sankar.
At the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Essequibo, who won the toss and batted first against points leaders Demerara, were bowled out for 263 off 67.1 overs, with only Ricardo Adams 54 (61 bals, 10×4), Tulsiram Premnauth 44 (29 balls, 5×4; 3×6) and 40 each from Royan Fredericks and Brian Herbert leading their batting.
Fredericks struck eight fours and Herbert six as leg-spinner Amir Khan took 4 for 54 and Christopher Barnwell 3 for 27 for Demerara, who at the close of play were 60 for 2, having lost the wickets of Trevon Griffith 32 (5×4) and Shemroy Barrington 20, with Khan their not-out batsman on 3.
When the action resumes for the second day today at 09:30hrs, the Developmental XI will commence their reply to Berbice mammoth first-innings score, while Demerara will look to score the remaining 203 runs to overhaul Essequibo’s total.

(By Calvin Roberts)