FORMER national Under-19 opener, 28-year-old Deonauth Baksh, is hoping that his successful stint with Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) Couva Sports Club (CSC) where he is currently playing alongside Barbados’ Ryan Hurley is enough to nudge the senior selectors this time around. The Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) right- handed batsman is home on a short break, due to the upcoming general elections in the Twin Island Republic and took the time out to update Chronicle Sport on his latest achievements with the bat in the Super League.
He has so far  scored 612 runs at an average of 122.40, including a highest score of 238 not out against Milton Sports Club, one of three centuries and also the one innings in which he shared a record-breaking 400-odd runs for the fourth wicket with Hurley, who went on to make a record-breaking 309.
Baksh’s first innings in the competition, landed him his first century which depicted the positive form he was in, as his aggregate of runs landed him the leading batsman position not only for his team which he guided to promotion but also in the entire competition.
“It is certainly a privilege for any batsman to score a number of runs in any competition, as it helps build his confidence. But having said that, it is heartening to note that my performance with the bat has enabled my club to be promoted to the Championship League next season and I am happy to note that I played a major part in that promotion.
Playing alongside Ryan (Hurley) is certainly a plus for me; for the times we got the opportunity to bat together he was more than willing to impart his knowledge to me and not only me, but the other members of the team. Hurley and I are the lone overseas players in the team’s lineup,” Baksh stated.
He followed up his unbeaten 238, with a resilient 92 against John Peters Road Sports Club, his lone half-century in the tournament and with one more match to play, Baksh said he is looking to top the 700-run mark and even look at reaching 750 and beyond if given the opportunity.
“Due to general elections in T&T, there is a break in the game, but next Monday I am returning full of confidence as I aim to reach the 700 runs mark and if possible, 750 and beyond as we still have one more match to go in the three-day version of the game,” said Baksh.
He continued, “A clean sweep of titles in the Super League is on the agenda for the team this year and certainly we are heading in that direction, as we have already secured the T20 title, have a semifinal spot in the 40 overs competition and leading the second-place team by 22 points in the three-day competition, with one more match to go.”
In the Twenty20 competition, Baksh has accumulated 201 runs from six innings, three of them unbeaten at an average of 67:00, including a highest score of 69 not out made against Lamaha Park Sports Club.
Along with his 163 runs made from just two innings, including a top score 138 not out scored off the bowling of Dow Village Cricket Club, he averaged 81.50 from his two innings, both of them being unbeaten.
Asked to compare the level of competition in T&T to that in Guyana, Baksh said the tournaments there are more organised while being competitive, with lots of support from the business community and once the business community can come on board with the cricket authorities here, the game can progress to another level.
But first and foremost on his mind at the moment is finding a place on the national team for next year’s Regional four-day competition as one of the opening batsmen.
“I would certainly relish a senior team call-up, as I view myself as a strong contender for one of the opening slots. But in order to achieve that, I have to score heavily in the Inter-county tournaments or whatever tournament will be used as the yardstick for selection, for Essequibo.
Having said that, I must say that I am available for selection for the Cinderella county team and with my present form, I am hoping to turn around the poor results that have been coming from the senior teams in Essequibo, with the help of the other players,” Baksh said.