BOTH ROYSTON Crandon and Vishal ‘Cheesy’ Singh struck unbeaten centuries for their respective teams, yesterday, that played to a tame draw in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) organised Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company/Hand-in-Hand sponsored four day competition.Playing at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Crandon, who resumed his innings yesterday on 79, went onto to score the tournament’s first ton, 112 not out which was decorated with six fours and two sixes, enabling Berbice who started the day on 265 for 6, to reach 319 for 8 declared against the President’s XI.
Faced with a deficit of 134 runs, the President’s XI rode on the back of Singh’s even unbeaten ton (188balls, 6×4) to reach 260 for 7, when stumps were pulled on the day’s play yesterday, ensuring his side came away with some points.
The President XI’s second innings started disastrously, when Shemroy Barrington was bowled by Raun Johnson without scoring off the first ball of the second over, before a pugnacious looking Robin Bacchus and Ryan Ramdass added 65 for the second wicket.
Bacchus struck nine fours and two sixes off Devendra Bishoo from the 47 deliveries he faced to post his 50, the sixth of the contest between the two sides, as he completely dominated the second wicket stand with Ramdass.
In looking to turn a delivery from Crandon through the leg side, Ramdass, whose contribution to the second wicket partnership was just 11, got a thick leading edge to Keon Joseph at mid-on, a wicket that spurred Berbice, who removed Dominique Rikhi (01) and later Bacchus, to leave their opponents on 77 for 4.
Bacchus had also struck Crandon over backward squareleg for his third six after posting his half century, taking 65 balls for his 63, while hitting nine fours and three sixes. And at tea the President’s XI, who were 98 for 4 at lunch, had reached 146 without further loss, with Singh on 40 and Seon Hetmyer 16.
After the interval, the pair added 130 match saving runs for the fifth wicket, before Hetmyer, who struck five fours in his 40 was caught at the wicket by Jonathan Foo, who was deputizing for Anthony Bramble (not feeling well), off Crandon.
Jason Sinclair (17) and Romario Shepherd-DeJonge (02) went in quick succession and it took a level head approach from Kellon Carmichael who was unbeaten on 01 with Singh, to ensure their side did not catapult further and came away with the three points they received for the draw.
Bishoo took 3 for 87 and Johnson and Crandon two wickets each for 41 and 54 runs respectively for Berbice, who were forced to settle for the six points they received, after taking first innings points the previous day.
Earlier in the day, Crandon lost Eugene LaFleur (03), with only 11 runs added to their team’s overnight score, with Bishoo (11, 2×4) joining him and seeing him to his century, the first for the tournament which was decorated with six fours and two sixes.
He later lost Bishoo who was lbw to Carmichael (2 for 74) at 300 for 8, before the declaration came approximately one hour before the luncheon interval, with Joseph the other not out batsman on 5, as Collis Butts (3 for 64) offered support to Carmichael.
The second round will bowl off tomorrow with Berbice taking on defending champions and points leaders Demerara at Enmore, while Essequibo, who lost their opening encounter to Demerara by an innings and 54 runs inside three days, will oppose the President’s XI at Georgetown Cricket Club ground.
Written By Calvin Roberts