Shameer guides District 6 to third consecutive title
… defending champs demolish District 13 by 127 runs
A SUPERB all-round performance from man-of-the-match Shalendra Shameer guided District 6 (Corentyne) to their third consecutive title in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Ministry of Education (MOE)/Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) Under-15 Inter-district tournament yesterday.

Playing against District 13 (West Demerara) at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, District 6 who, won the toss and chose to bat first, reached 225-8 from their 40 overs, with Shameer, who is a national Under-15 all-rounder, leading the way with 74 (11×4).

Shameer featured in a 49-run third-wicket partnership with Parmanand Narine 50 (6×4), who had earlier added 44 for the first wicket with Nazarudeen Bux (12), followed by a 52-run fourth-wicket partnership with Ruel Leitch (11).

Another national Under-15 player in Gudakesh Kanhai Motie, who is more known for his wicket-taking ability with the ball, showed that he is no rabbit with the bat, hitting an entertaining 30 which was decorated with four fours, including two sweetly timed drives over and through extra cover respectively.

Chandreika Persaud (2-29) and Michael Mathura (2-58) led the bowling for District 13, with support from the pint-sized Malcolm Hubbert and Rafeek Nazier who both got one wicket each for 33 and 41 runs respectively.

When District 13 took to the crease in their reply, they found the bowling of leg-spinner Motie Kanhai (3-23), off-spinners Shameer and David Latchaya, who took 2-4 and 2-9 respectively, and another leg-spinner in skipper Shawn Pereira (2-33 ) too much to handle and folded for 98, handing District 6 a comfortable 127-run victory.

At the brief presentation ceremony which followed, president of the GCB Chetram Singh and Director of Sport within the National Sports Commission (NSC) Neil Kumar congratulated both teams on reaching the final of the tournament which had attracted over 143 schools across the country, and vowed to see a bigger and better tournament next year.

Both teams were presented with medallions, while Shameer received a trophy for his man-of-the-match efforts and District 6 collected the winners’ trophy which was presented to Pereira by Singh.