Persaud spins Cultural CC to win over Media XI

FORTY-eight-year-old Sham Persaud rolled back the years last Sunday, with an incisive spell of spin-bowling to lead Cultural Cricket Club (CCC) to a 24-run victory over the Guyana Media XI in a feature 20/20 match at the club’s ground in Canal Number Two Polder. Inserted to take first strike on a wicket that was conducive to bowling due to some moisture, the hosts battled the challenges well to post 113-9 from their allotted overs.

Persaud then went to work, ripping through the middle and lower order to finish with 6-15 from four tantalising overs of off-spin, as the Media boys were routed for 89 in 18.3 overs, much to the delight of a fair-size crowd that witnessed the encounter.
Persaud, whose guile and accuracy suited the conditions, removed openers Ravi Persaud and Rajiv Bisnauth in his first over to start a dramatic collapse after the Media practitioners were coasting at 50-2 in the 10th over.
He then followed up with a hat-trick in his third over and another wicket in his final over as the visitors lost the last eight wickets for just 35 runs – receiving solid support from Steve Haripaul and Ghansham Mahabal, who picked up 2-14 and 2-17 respectively.
NCB’s Ravi Persaud top-scored for the Media XI with 29, while fellow left-hander Daniel Singh of Guyana Times and TVG Ch. 28 made 21.
Earlier, seamer Keon Blades picked up 4-13 from four overs and Bisnauth 2-22 to limit the hosts to below 120 a total which would have been much less,, had the Media boys not left off former national youth player Dayanand Roopnarine, who was dropped thrice on his way to a topscore of 39.
The left-hander, dropped early in his innings, struck two fours and two sixes, and received support from former national wicket/keeper batsman and guest player Sheik Mohamed who made 23.
At the presentation ceremony, which followed the game, Sham Persaud took away two trophies after he was adjudged best bowler and man-of-the-match, while Roopnarine was the best batsman of the day’s encounter.
Trophies for the teams were also given out, all compliments of Tiger Sports of Old Road, Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
President of the CCC, Gobin Persaud, said his executives were elated to host the Media XI, and said he is hopeful that the alliance with the players will be a long and successful one, while he lauded both teams for the spirit in which the game was played, noting that the camaraderie and brotherhood were evident during the on-field exchanges.
Media XI skipper John Ramsingh expressed gratitude to the CCC for being great hosts, adding the hospitality was excellent. Both teams look forward to playing a rematch shortly in Georgetown.

 

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