Five-wicket hauls for Ferrier, Deosarran and Mohammed
THE Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Marcus Watkins and Terry Frazer struck centuries while Surujpaul Deosarran and Zaheer Mohammed took five-wicket hauls when action in the Demerara zone of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-sponsored nationwide three-day first division competition resumed last weekend with four matches.

While the two struck centuries, they were forced to share the spotlight with three bowlers namely Dion Ferrier, Surujpaul Deosarran and Zaheer Mohammed, who all took five-wicket hauls for their respective teams.

At the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Watkins struck 12 fours and one six in his 120, while Frazer touched the boundary ropes 11 times and cleared it twice in his unbeaten 103, as they added 187 for the fourth wicket and along with Dillon Heyliger’s 46 ensured the GDF who were engaging Transport Sports Club (TSC), ended the day on 330-6 against the bowling of Yogesh Kissoon who took 2-49.

At the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground on Thomas Lands, the home team, thanks to a resilient unbeaten 55 from former national Under-15 (3×4) skipper Kwame Crosse, grabbed first innings points from the Rohan Sarjoo-led Nandy Park (NP).

Being asked to take first strike, NP could post only a miserly 124, of which Sarjoo contributed a healthy 47 and Terry Liverpool 26, against the bowling of Ferrier who took 5-29 and Quason Nedd who offered support with 2-16.

Even though MSC finished the day on 162-7, a lead of 38 runs with three wickets in hand, they were indebted to the batting of Crosse, Demerara left-arm orthodox spinner Damian Van Tull (46) and Randy Lindore who made 23.

At Enterprise, the host team were in a comfortable position to take first innings points from the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) in their fixture.

Thanks to the bowling of off-spinner Mohammed, who was overlooked by the national selectors but still managed to take 5-55, along with Chatterpaul Singh’s 3-37, Enterprise were able to bowl out their guests for 164.

Former national Under-17 captain and wicketkeeper/batsman Dexter Solomon led the batting for GNIC with a responsible 64 which was the only worthy contribution against the bowling of Mohammed and Singh. In reply, Enterprise reached 111-1 at the close, with Parmanand Dindiall making 46 and Latchman Yadram an unbeaten 45.

At the Lusignan Sports Club (LSC) ground, the home team were battling to stay in the spotlight with their guests and group leaders New Line Cavaliers (NLC) who, having declared their first innings close on 285-8, had their hosts rocking at 37-3.

In NLC’s innings, skipper Andre Percival, a former Guyana and West Indies Youth captain shared two 79-run partnerships with Gajanand Singh and Avenash Sookdeo on the way to his top score of 58 which included three fours and two maximums.

The in-form Singh, who had made a robust 125 the previous day for the Invitational XI in their practice game against the National XI, also struck two sixes and six fours in his 56, while Sookdeo contributed 36 (4×4) and Chien Gittens an unbeaten 25 which was decorated with three fours.

Deosarran took 6-65 from 17 overs for LSC, who found the guile of former West Indies right-arm leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo (2-18) and Singh (1-8) too much to negotiate and at the close were shakily placed on 37-3, with Krishna Deosarran (3) and Dillon Hamilton (2) being the not-out batsmen.

The final two days of this round will be contested on Saturday and Sunday, with all teams who have placed themselves in a comfortable position at the end of the first day, looking to press for victory over their less fortunate opponents, while Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and Police Sports Club (PSC) will begin their fixture at the PSC ground, with Reginald Grant and Cyril Garnath officiating. (Calvin Roberts)