… ECB appeals decision
THE Competitions Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has ordered a replay to the controversial ending of the GCB/GTM Under-19 Inter-county three-day fixture between Essequibo and defending champions Berbice at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground two weeks ago. But the Essequibo Cricket Board has rightly appealed the decision, leaving the matter in the hands of the GCB Executives who will meet and make the final decision at their next monthly statutory meeting which is set for Friday, May 14, in the GCB’s boardroom.
According to an official of the GCB who chose to remain anonymous, the umpires were found wanting, when they failed to administer a penalty to the host team Essequibo for slow overrate in the final hour of the final day of Berbice’s second innings of the match which ended in a draw.
Berbice were set a victory target of 158 runs and were 13 runs away when stumps were pulled by one of the umpires on the final day, citing the safety of the batsmen who in his opinion were about to face a fast bowler, even as left-arm orthodox spinner Ricardo Adams was handing the standing umpire his hat.
In their protest, Berbice, who went on to retain the limited overs title after defeating Essequibo while their original and rescheduled fixture against Demerara was marred by rain, asked the Competitions Committee to award them the game, but they ordered a replay instead.
Things took another twist when Essequibo appealed the decision of the GCB’s Competitions Committee, forcing the GCB’s executives to meet and decide the way out with this one.
As it is at the moment, Demerara, despite losing first innings points to Berbice in their final game, have 15 points while Berbice ended in the runner-up position on nine points with Essequibo who lost to Demerara inside two days in third place, on six.
Should the ordered replay be granted, the final placing can be altered as a Berbice victory would see them soaring to 18 points and sole ownership of the title, while a victory for Essequibo who played competitive cricket against the Ancient County team until the final day’s play, would boost their chances for next year’s tournament.