Persaud slams ton for GNIC in win over DCC ‘B’
… DCC ‘A’, TSC and Bel Air RUBiS also win

THANKS to a pugnacious and unbeaten century from skipper Joshua Persaud, the points leaders Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) chalked up a comfortable 178-run victory over Demerara Cricket Club ‘B’, in their Georgetown Cricket Association/BrainStreet Under-15 fixture yesterday.

Also recording victories were defending champions DCC ‘A’, Transport Sports Club (TSC) and Bel Air RUBiS, who defeated Everest Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) and Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) respectively.
At GNIC, the visiting DCC ‘B’ team won the toss and regrettably asked their hosts to bat first and they compiled a massive 282 for 2 from 21.2 overs, thanks to Persaud’s unbeaten 142 which took him 60 deliveries to accumulate and was decorated with 14 fours and 11 sixes.
The Georgetown Under-15 skipper received support from Christopher Campbell who struck nine fours and three sixes in his 82 before he was run-out, adding 240 for the second wicket with Persaud, who had earlier posted 40 for the first wicket with Kurt Lovell 20 (3×4, 1×6).
In reply DCC ‘B’ were bundled out for 104 scored off 42.3 overs, with Extras topscoring with 52 while David Marshall contributed 20 with the bat, which included two sixes and one four, as Persaud returned with the ball to claim 5 for 21 and Orlando Ghisiawan 2 for 22.
At the DCC ground in Queenstown, the ‘A’ team faced Everest in a one-sided affair, bowling out their guests for 45 in 23.4 overs, of which Yeudistir Persaud led the way with his unbeaten 15 (2×4).
National Under-15 left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd took 4 for 5 and got support from Junior Phillips and Bhojnarine Singh who took 3 wickets each for 10 and 11 runs respectively for DCC ‘A’, who in reply scored 46 for 3, with 24 of their runs coming by way of Extras.
Darion Dickson made an unbeaten 9 while Nedd struck one four in his 8 before he was bowled by the lone female player in the tournament, Mandy Mangru, who took 2 for 8 for Everest in a losing cause.
At GYO, Bel Air RUBiS batted first and were bowled out for 215 off 41.2 overs, thanks to a fifth-wicket partnership worth 101 runs between Josiah Butler 84 (9×6, 4×4) and Nand Sanicharran who made an unbeaten 71 with five fours and one six.
They rescued their team from 68 for 4 in the face of some disciplined bowling from the home team who were led by Tony Hargobin’s 3 for 11, with support from Pradesh Balkishun and Navindra Persaud who took 2 wickets each for 16 and 40 runs respectively.
In reply, GYO were bowled out for 196 from 53 overs, despite a resilient 62 from Persaud with seven fours, 19 from Chandra Mohan, 17 from Navindra Dindial and 16 from Elnathan Sooknanand, as Alex Chunilall took 3 for 38 to steer Bel Air RUBiS to the win by 19 runs.
At the MSC ground on Thomas Lands, the home team asked TSC to bat first and saw them pile up 208 for 8 off their 48 overs, led by an unbeaten 36 (3×4) from Anthony Antonio, 34 from Colin Barlow, 26 from Deon Allen and 25 from Toney Adjodha.
Jowan Cadogan took 3 for 17 and Stece Norville 2 for 32 for the home team, who in reply were bowled out for 64 off 31.5 overs, with Arvin Gangadin 16 and Sachin Basdeo 11 being their lone batsmen to reach double figures.
Antonio returned with the ball to claim 4 for 9 and was backed by Joel Spooner’s 3 for 9 and Akeem Maloney’s 2 for 14.
The tournament continues today with several matches, among them the top of the table clash between GNIC and DCC ‘A’ at DCC from 09:30hrs.

(By Calvin Roberts)