– through to final against Demerara Cricket Club

TRANSPORT Sports Club (TSC) produced a disciplined bowling and fielding effort to edge hosts Everest Cricket Club by five runs in the second semifinal in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) sponsored New Building Society (NBS) second division 40-over cricket tournament yesterday.Chasing 160 for victory, Everest were bowled out for 155 in 39.4 overs, with all the Transport bowlers having excellent returns.
Ostyn Batson and Shawn Massiah had (2-22) and (2-34) respectively, while Kevin Ross, Charwayne McPherson, Azim Azeez and Devaughu Nanda all chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Akshaya Persaud produced an excellent all-round performance, but it was not enough to guide Everest across the final line.Persaud first produced a brilliant spell with the ball to claimed 3-20 before he hugged the limelight with the bat, hitting an entertaining 80 off 87 balls. He smashed four fours and two sixes.
After deciding to bat, Transport Sports Club rallied on an attractive half-century from Sunil Singh, to pose a challenging total of 159 made in 35.3 overs.
Singh’s 51 was the mainstay of the innings after the visiting side lost opener Chemroy Kendall (7) in the sixth over to Aveshkar Ramgobin (1-28), at 27-1.
The right-handed Singh then joined McPherson and they knuckled down to their task on a slow, dry-looking pitch and rebuilt the innings, with sound and stylish shotmaking.
The pair added 60 runs for the second-wicket before they were undermined by off-spinner Richie Looknauth and left-arm spinner Persaud.
Looknauth, who produced a brilliant spell to claim (3-24) from his eight overs,removed McPherson (24),then Nanda (10), and Singh in the process. Singh’s innings was decorated with three fours and two sixes.
Things then went further downhill for the visitors, and the remaining batsmen failed to show any sort of commitment with the bat.Persaud and medium pacer Azad Mohamed both bowled with great control, picking up five of the remaining wickets.
Mohamed finished with 2-27, while Dwayne Adams was the other successful bowler, with 1-19.
Rafael Singh (10) and Azeez (11) were the other batsmen to reach double figures.
The run chase then started disastrously for the hosts when Adams was run out for one and Travis Mohamed was taken at the wicket off Nanda without scoring, at 3-2.
However, Persaud and Khemraj Ramdeen then showed good composure to pull their team out of trouble. The left-handed pair seized the advantage and took the score to 60. In the process they put together 57 runs for the third-wicket before Shawn Massiah provided the visitors with two breakthroughs when he removed Ramdeen for 35 and Looknauth (5).
At the other end, Persaud kept on batting unperturbed and did not allow the bowlers to settle down.However,the visitors broke through again with the wickets of Govin Sookdeo (8) and Azad Mohamed (6), at 108-6.
With 44 runs needed off 36 balls, Persaud decided to accelerate, hitting McPherson for 15 off the 35th over to ease the pressure somewhat.
The hosts then lost Randy Dhanraj (9), but Persaud in company with Rajin Sookdeo, took their team within eight runs of victory before off-spinner Ross removed the dangerous Persaud, while Ramgobin was run out.
The hosts were left with seven to get off the last over but Sookdeo buckled to the pressure and was eventually stumped off the fourth ball bowled by Batson, leaving the hosts heart-broken.
Transport will now meet Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in the final at a date and venue to be announced.