GUYANA and West Indies ‘A’ team leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo snared five wickets as Essequibo continued their  brittle batting display against Cellink Berbice at the end of the first day of their second-round encounter in this year’s Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) four-team four-day competition yesterday. Asked to take first strike by their hosts, Essequibo whose innings was interrupted for 57 minutes by rain, catapulted from 51 without loss to a meagre 127, thanks to Bishoo’s 5-34 taken off 19 overs, with support from national fast bowlers Keon Joseph and Esaun Crandon who took two wickets each for 33 and 54 runs respectively.
Openers Kenzo Baksh (28) and Norman Fredericks (24) added 51 for the first wicket in-between the rain breaks, before Baksh was lbw to Crandon, following which Essequibo’s innings catapulted to their eventual total, with Jason Heyliger, who did not play against Demerara when his team lost by an innings inside two days, contributing 28.
In reply, Cellink Berbice who are the defending champions reached 96-2 from 23 overs, with Maxie De Jonge leading the way with an unbeaten 42 and has as his partner discarded West Indies middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine who is on 17.
Earlier, Sewnarine Chattergoon made 23 while Rayon Thomas, another inclusion from the first match, and Ronsford Beaton have taken the two wickets to fall for the Ancient County team.
Play will continue today at 09:15 h. (Calvin Roberts)