By Rajiv Bisnauth
OPENER Joshua Persaud struck a scintillating century before the bowlers produced an impressive performance, as Chase Academy comfortably beat Uitvlugt Secondary School by 18 runs to win the Inter-School phase of the Guyana Cricket Board National Secondary School Cricket League, played yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.Courtesy of Persaud’s 104, the city school piled up a commendable 199-9 in 30 overs and then restricted the visitors for 181 in 29.3 overs despite a brilliant 76 from Chanderpaul Mohabir.

Asked to bat first on a usually flat batting-friendly Bourda pitch, Chase Academy openers Persaud and Lester Cupidore added 24 runs for the first wicket before the latter was run-out for five.
Pacer Reyaz Khan then pushed Chase Academy to the back-foot. Khan, after a wayward beginning, found a nice rhythm to bowl Shamar Barakat for no score at 24-2.
Hundreds of spectators gathered at the venue, including students from both schools, to watch as Persaud and Kirt Lovell steadied the rocking innings with an enterprising third-wicket stand of 79 runs.
The partnership was broken by medium-pacer Dodi Oselmo when he removed Lovell for 20. Ashmead Nedd then departed, trapped leg-before-wicket with a full-length delivery to provide the medium-pacer with his second wicket, three balls later.
It became 125-5 at the end of the 16th over when Oselmo had Dwayne Dick caught-and-bowled for two.
On the other hand, the right-handed Persaud was scoring runs at will. He made batting look easy, and at the same time showed a glimpse of his brilliance.
Batting with much fluency, Persaud scored his hundred from 69 balls. However, Persaud, whose well-placed innings was laced with 11 fours and four sixes, departed five balls later bowled by Troy Drakes.
Khan returned for his second spell and immediately removed Romario Cameron (2), before Mark Fredricks and Oselmo claimed the wickets of Sese Norville (19) and Martin Wills (2).
Oselmo finished with figures of 4-28 off six impressive overs, while Khan ended with 3-28 off 5.2 overs.
The Uitvlugt Secondary’s run chase started poorly with Ryan Mohabir (7), Riedell Reddy (9), Lallchan Seeram (10) and Drakes all failing as they slumped to 57-4.
Mohabir then anchored a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 80 with Oselmo, who contributed only 21 before he was bowled by Cupidore.
Uitvlugt then lost their last five wickets for 27 runs including the right-handed Mohabir.
Credit should be given to Chase’s bowlers, especially Cupidore, who claimed 3-13. Dick (2-26), Man-of-the-Match Persaud (2-40), Norville (1-36) and Lovell (1-33) were the other successful