HOSTS Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) produced a disciplined bowling and fielding effort to comfortably whip the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) by 49 runs.

By virtue of the win, they clinched the title of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)-sponsored New Building Society (NBS) second division 40-over tournament.

Chasing 184 for victory, GCC were bowled out for 134 in 36.3 overs, with all the hosts’ bowlers having excellent returns. However, it was West Indies left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd who did the most damage with figures of 4-22.

Deonarine Seegobin produced an unbeaten 53 but it was not enough to guide GCC across the final line.

Earlier, DCC, after winning the toss, decided to bat first, but medium pacer Ronaldo Alimohamed (2-34) gave the visitors the perfect start by removing both Steven Sankar and Alphius Bookie without scoring, at the end of the second over.

However, with proceedings looking grim, Sachin Singh and Raymond Perez joined forces and enjoyed the batting-friendly conditions for a brief period of 12 overs. During those overs they were able to generate some momentum, and showed good composure to pull their team out of trouble. They put together 74-run for the third wicket, the only partnership of substance.

Singh, the former West Indies Under-15 captain, hit three fours and two sixes in his top score of 39 while Perez made 34, with two fours and similar number of sixes. The rest of the batting failed to contribute, with the next highest score being Ashmead Nedd (29) and Garrick Persaud’s unbeaten 25.

After Alimohamed’s early setbacks to the innings, left-arm spinners Chetram Persaud (3-34), and Gavin Singh (3-42) were the two main bowlers responsible after the third-wicket stand was broken.

Persaud removed both Singh and Perez in the space of 13 balls, while Singh applied pressure from his end. He was rewarded for his hard work with the wicket of Nkosi Beaton for 17, the other batsman to reach double figures. Bernard Bailey (1-19) was the other successful bowler.

The run chase started in similar fashion to the first innings, with GCC losing Joshua Wade, bowled by Dennis Squires without scoring and number three batsmen Marlon Persaud run-out for five, at 6-2.

Nedd then got into the act. He first bowled Kennard Moonsammy (2), trapped Timothy McAlmont lbw for ten and removed the prized wicket of danger-man Alimohamed for three, at 40-5.

Seegobin and Singh tried to rebuild the innings, but that attempt was short-lived. The pair added just 47 runs before Singh was removed by Bookie for 15.

Chetram Persaud and Seegogain then took the score to 108 when Nedd bowled Persaud for 15. Xaviee Smith then claimed two wickets before Dexter George had the final wicket to seal a comprehensive win for the hosts.

At the presentation ceremony immediately afterwards, Nedd was voted man-of-the-match. He also received the trophy for the best bowling figure in the game. Best fielder award went to Bernard Bailey while Seegobin won the trophy for the most runs in the game.

Also at the presentation ceremony, Omesh Danram (UG) won the MVP in Zone A, with 285 runs and nine wickets. The MVP in Zone B went to Bookie with 208 runs and two wickets. A number of top officials from the banking institution were present during the day’s proceedings.