At Anna Regina, compliments of Castrol

LED by an authoritative and unbeaten 64 from Kamesh Yadram, followed by fast bowler Ryan Chichester’s three-wicket burst, defending champions Demerara fought back to defeat Essequibo by 67 runs in their first round clash of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-organised Castrol-sponsored Under-15 Inter-county tournament at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground yesterday.

Being asked to take first strike in a game which was reduced to 45 overs due to seepage on the pitch from overnight rain, Demerara found themselves in a shaky position at 91-6 in the 27th over, with skipper Brian Sattaur (8) among the batsmen back in the pavilion.
Controlled bowling from Mohammed Hassan who took 3-25 including the prized scalp of Sattaur, kept the Cinderella County, who have been the perennial whipping boys of local cricket, in the match, before Sattaur was joined by wicketkeeper batsman Prince Roberts who made a stubborn 18 (1×4).

Together the two took the fight to Essequibo who were led by national Under-15 vice-captain Ricardo Adams, after they lost Vishal Narayan (15), Andrew Gibson (1) and Terrence Alstrom (10), thanks to control bowling which was backed by disciplined fielding.
But as Yadram – who posted his 50 from 91 balls with one four and a six struck over midwicket off Andy Dass and Roberts who also pulled Hemant Kowshaldai through a vacant midwicket for four – added 43 for the seventh wicket from 8.4 overs, Essequibo’s fielding went to pieces.

Yadram, in company with Dexter George 19 (3×4), took advantage of the fielding lapses by their hosts to guide their team to the eventual total of 198-9 from their 45 overs, with Yadram being unbeaten on 64 made off 100 deliveries with one four and a six.
Hassan, who was under-bowled by Adams, ended with 3-25 and along with Herry Greene 2-24 and Kowshaldai 2-34, tried desperately to keep Essequibo in the game after they let their opponents, who never looked like passing the 150 mark, off the hook.
Demerara did not return the favour when Essequibo batted, as Chichester ripped their top order apart, sending back Adams (0) and Shavendra Hemraj (10) to leave the home team on 19-2 in the fourth over.

Controlled spin bowling from Premraj Lall and Vishal Narayan, who took two wickets each for 18 and 24 runs respectively, kept a tight lid on Essequibo who were eventually bowled out for 137 from 44.3 overs.
Raj Parbattie 22 (2×4) added 35 for the sixth wicket with Dass 14 (1×4) from 9.4 over and a further 28 for the seventh wicket with Daneshwar Dhanpaul 22 (1×4) from 5.4 overs and despite a rearguard 18 from Mark Gonsalves and 17 from Greene, Essequibo were way off the target.