Ishmael snatches hat-trick as TSC humble Diplomats
… Wins for GNIC and Everest
SHAFEEK Ishmael turned in a solid all- round performance including a hat-trick for Transport Sports Club (TSC), enabling them to record a commanding 152-run victory over Diplomats when action in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)-organised, Haier Cup-sponsored second division cricket competition continued yesterday. Also recording victories were Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) and Everest Cricket Club (ECC) who defeated Georgetown Cricket Club and Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) by three wickets and 84 runs in their respective encounter.
At the GNIC ground in Woolford Avenue, TSC who opted to take first strike scored an imposing 225-8 from their 40 overs, with Jonathan Alphonso 70 (8×6, 2×4), Shaun Massiah 33, Ishmael 32 and Charwayne McPherson 30 being the leading scorers.
Bernard Bailey (3-23) and Devon Paul 2-27 did the damage with the ball for Diplomats who in reply were bowled out for 73 off 23 overs, with only Orlando Kirton who made 30 offering resistance to Ishmael, who ended with 6-22  including a hat-trick and Massiah 2-15.
At the GYO ground, the home team went under to ECC in a one-sided affair. ECC batted first and scored 217-8 from their 40 overs on a heavy outfield, with Andrew Lovell hitting an unbeaten 51 (6×6), Khemraj Ramdeen 43, Surendra Hirelall 40 and Mohan Ramdeen 26.
Bowling for the home team, Carl Bowen and Deryck Khoulen took two wickets each for 28 and 47 runs respectively, but when they batted, they were bowled out for 133 from 30.2 overs with Tagenarine Chanderpaul hitting four sixes and five fours in his unbeaten 69 while Khoulen returned to make 25.
National Under-19 leg-spinner Amir Khan took 3-34 while Chanderpaul Hemraj and Ahbilash Dookie offered support with two wickets each for 12 and 16 runs respectively.
At the world renowned GCC ground, the home team were stopped by GNIC who, thanks to the bowling of Jermaine Grovesnor who took 6-20, bowled out the home team for 97 from 26.4 overs in which Gavin Singh top-scored with 35 (3×4).
Shawn De Souza then stroked a solid 30 and along with former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner Clyde Butts who made an unbeaten 19, steered GNIC to 101-7 off 31.3 overs in reply, even though Singh and Winston Forrester grabbed three wickets for 23 and 21 runs in a losing cause for GCC.
The other scheduled match between Malteenoes Sports Club and Ace Warriors was not played, as the University of Guyana ground is still in an unplayable condition.
The tournament continues today.