… Georgetown too good for East Bank
THANKS to a pugnacious half-century from Rudolph Singh, East Coast started their campaign for supremacy in the Demerara Cricket Board-organised, Diamond Fire and General Insurance Company-sponsored Inter-Association Under-19 limited overs tournament with a six-wicket victory over defending champions West Demerara at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground yesterday.At the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Georgetown also came away victorious in their opening round encounter against East Bank, thanks to half-centuries from Kemol Savory and Sunil Singh who led their team to an imposing 267 for 8, to which East Bank replied with 205 for 8.
At the GCC ground, West Demerara won the toss and chose to bat following which they scored 225 for 8 from their 50 overs, thanks to Renaldo Renee’s 76 (92 balls, 10×4) and 43 from Malcolm Hubbard who struck three fours off the 66 deliveries he faced.
This duo added 66 for the fourth wicket for their team who were 64 for 3, having lost Keshram Seyhodan (2), Travis Persaud (10) and Chetnarine Pooran (7) to some disciplined bowling and fielding by the eventual victors.
A catch by Ramnarine Chatura accounted for Renee, while Hubbard had his stumps disturbed by Vivian Albert, as East Coast pegged back things and at the same time restricted the free-scoring rampage the defending champions were heading for.
Brian Sattaur took 2 for 30 and I. Alli 2 for 37 for East Coast, who in their reply lost Sattaur (6) in the first over followed by Deoraj Chunilall 14 (2×4) to be 45 for two, before Singh and Chatura joined forces to add 134 for the third wicket with some boisterous hitting.
Singh posted his 50 from 56 balls with seven neatly timed fours to all parts of the ground, following which he celebrated with two massive sixes off Richie Looknauth, prompting a ball change after his second six sailed over wide long-on and out of the ground.
Not satisfied with his exploits, he hoisted Kevin Paul over backward squareleg for his third six and when Hubbard came into the attack from the North Road End, Singh showed him no mercy with another six, his fourth and final one, over midwicket.
However, when well set for his maiden ton at this level, he picked out Navendra Persaud who held a diving catch at long on, having made 97 off 104 balls with eight fours and four sixes. He was followed shortly after by Chatura, who was stumped by Renee off a wide delivery from Hubbard for an even 50 (96 balls, 3×4).
At 187 for 4, Vishwanauth Ramlakhan and Albert ensured West Demerara had nothing more to smile about, as they added 39 for their unbroken fifth-wicket partnership to steer their side to 226 for 4 off 48 overs, with Ramlakhan unbeaten on 24 (2×4) and Albert 16 (1×4, 1×6).
At DCC in Queenstown, Georgetown’s 267 for 8 was fashioned around even half-centuries from Sunil Singh and Savory, with the former hitting five fours off 57 balls and the latter two fours and the same number of sixes off 59 balls.
Tariq Dharamlall chipped in with his unbeaten 26 (21 balls, 3×4) and Steven Sankar offered support with his 21 that included back-to-back sixes and a four, as Ricky Debidyal took 2 for 19 to be East Bank Demerara’s best bowler.
Despite Deonarine Seegobin hitting seven fours in his topscore of 46 and Stephon Browne counting one six in his 41, backed by Michael Sultan’s unbeaten 33 that included two sixes and one four, East Bank Demerara were limited to 205 for 8 in reply, in the face of some tight fielding from the Georgetown boys.
Carlton Jacques, Michael Shalim and Sankar took 2 wickets each for 29, 44 and 38 runs respectively for their team who will face West Demerara in their second match at the Wales Community Centre ground tomorrow, while East Coast and East Bank do battle at Enmore.
By Calvin Roberts