Essequibo zone of GCB/Neal and Massy competition
BOTH Pomeroon and Central Essequibo recorded opening round victories in the Essequibo zone of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ Neal and Massy sponsored 40 overs- aside first division competition last Saturday on the Essequibo coast.

In the match between Central Essequibo and North Essequibo at the Lima Sports Club ground, Central won the toss and electing to take first strike compiled 204 before they were bowled out in the final over of their innings.

Essequibo’s senior inter-county batsman Yogeshwar Lall struck six fours and two massive sixes in his top score of 62 and together with Ganesh Mangal’s 27 (2×4; 2×6) and Ian Gonsalves’ 21 which included two maximums, Central were able to reach their eventual target.

Bowling for North Essequibo, Punraj Singh, Uvindra Balgobin and Vishwanauth Lall each picked up two wickets but when their team batted, they could only score 186 from 35.5 overs, even though Vishwanauth Lall returned to hit five fours and two maximums in his attacking 58.

He was well supported by Navin Bahadur who made 42 (3×4, 2×6) and Elroy Stephney who made an unbeaten 30 not out which contained two fours and two sixes, but the bowling of Latchamn Rohit (2-9), Balchan Shivambar (2-15) and national youth fast bowler Rensford Beaton (2-43) were too much for North Essequibo’s batsmen and they succumbed by 18 runs.

At the Golden Fleece ground, Pomeroon got the better of South Essequibo by three wickets in their encounter.

Batting first after winning the toss, South Essequibo managed to score 217 all out in their 40 overs, thanks largely to some poor fielding from the Pomeroon Boys who dropped a total of eight catches.  Former national under- 19 vice captain Royan Fredricks who benefitted from two of the chances, made a patient 54 which contained six fours and a solitary six.

He was well supported by his elder brother Norman who also was given two chances and was also bowled off a no ball in his 38 (5×4; 1×6),Sandy Jairam (20) and Ravidra Persaud (18), as extras contributed a healthy 61. 

Bowling for Pomeroon, Chris Williams with (3-31) and Basil Persaud (2-39) were the main destroyers of South Essequibo’s batting. 

In reply, Pomeroon reached their target of 218 with three wickets in hand and 5.1 overs to spare, thanks largely to the inform Anthony Persaud who made a magnificent 70 (4×4; 4×6) with support from skipper Eric Gomes 30 (1×4), who batted with some discomfort after he was struck on the arm by fast bowler Norman Fredericks while being involved in an 89 runs partnership with Ramesh Narine who made 26 (2×6; 1×4).

Williams returned with the bat to add 30 (4×4; 1×6) as Pomeroon romped to an easy three wicket victory against the bowling of Royan Fredericks (3-31) and former Essequibo Under-19 all rounder Delon Heyliger who took2-29.

The competition continues on Saturday with Pomeroon going up against Central Essequibo and North Essequibo doing battle with South Essequibo at venues to be announced.