Motie rocks Essequibo despite Adams, Boodie half-centuries
DESPITE resilient half-centuries from Kevon Boodie and skipper Anthony Adams, defending champions Cellink Berbice took first innings points from Essequibo, thanks to Gudakesh Motie’s 5-50 on the second day of their first round Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/GTM Under-19 Inter-county three-day match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, yesterday.
Cellink Berbice resumed on their overnight score of 264 for 7 with Linden Austin on 86 and Clinton Pestano 11. They lost Austin in the third over of the day, when the batsman was caught at the wicket by Boodie off skipper Anthony Adams (3-60) without adding to his and the team’s overnight score.
Cellink Berbice were eventually dismissed for 312 midway the morning session, before Motie and his skipper Shawn Pereira (3-92) dismantled Essequibo’s middle and lower order to bowl them out for 239, despite Boodie and Anthony Adams contributing 67 and 63 respectively.
Earlier, Pestano was joined by wicketkeeper/batsman Andy Mohan and they added 28 for the ninth wicket, before the former who stuck Herry Greene (3-67) for six over long on, was stumped by Boodie off the same bowler for 39, leaving Cellink Berbice on 292 for 9, when Motie (07) joined Mohan.
Pestano faced 75 balls and batted for 74 minutes for his lone six in his innings, but Mohan and Motie added 20 for the last wicket, before Motie was caught by Hassan Mohammed off Greene, leaving Mohan, who struck first class fast bowler Ronsford Beaton for four, unbeaten on 11.
Mark Tyrell ended with 2 for 22 while Beaton who also played with the West Indies Under-19 team during their tour of Dubai earlier this year, ended with one for 87 from 18 overs and at lunch, Essequibo were 21 for 1 with Boodie on 8 and Vijay Surujpaul 3, losing the wicket of Mark Gonsalves who was bowled by Joemal La Fleur for 8.
When play resumed after the lunch break, Boodie displayed a no-nonsense attitude by hitting Pestano over mid on twice for four, followed by a six and four over long on, while Surujpaul also struck Kevin Ramdeen for four through mid-wicket.
Boodie realised his maiden half-century at this level, when he struck Pereira over wide long off for his second six, facing 80 balls and hitting six furs And two sixes while batting for 110 minutes, before he lost Surujpaul who was caught by Motie at deep backward square leg off Pereira.
Surujpaul contributed 32 runs from 96 balls with three fours, while adding 88 for the second wicket with Boodie and was quickly followed by Boodie and Beaton (0) who were both dismissed by Motie to leave Essequibo precariously placed on 117 for 4, with their skipper on 5.
Boodie faced 81 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes for his 56 while he batted for 115 minutes and with Ricardo Adams being forced to retire hurt before he faced a delivery, suffering from nasal hemorrhaging, Essequibo looked to be a hopeless case midway the afternoon session.
Ricardo Adams resumed his innings at the fall of Beaton’s wicket and at tea, Essequibo were 128 for 4 with Anthony and Ricardo Adams the not-out batsmen on 11 and 5 respectively.
After tea, the Adams took their partnership to 55 runs, with some lusty hitting which involved Anthony Adams hitting La Fleur and Kevin Ramdeen for boundaries, while they both struck boundaries off Motie, before Ricardo Adams was stumped by Mohan off Ramdeen for 21.
Anthony Adams was joined by Seon Venture and he brought up his half-century from 75 balls, hitting six fours while batting for 93 minutes, before he lost Venture who was adjudged lbw to Motie for 15. At 206 for 6 with Anthony Adams on 52, Essequibo looked set to overhaul Cellink Berbice’s first innings score when Kevin Fredericks joined Anthony Adams.
Fredericks showed he is no rabbit with the bat hitting Romario De Jonge-Shepherd for four, followed by a six over wide midwicket, before he was caught by Pestano at long off when he looked to hit Pereira over the boundary and when Motie gained an lbw verdict to remove Tyrell (2) and Anthony Adams, Essequibo were 230 for 9.
Anthony Adams faced 108 deliveries for his 60 that was decorated with six fours while he batted for 136 minutes, leaving Greene and Mohammed to get the remaining 83 runs required for first innings points, a feat they did not achieve as Mohammed was bowled by Pereira at 239, leaving Greene unbeaten on 3.
Pereira offered amicable support to Motie with his leg-spin bowling for his team who reached one without loss from two overs at the end of the day’s play, heading into today’s final day with a lead of 74 runs with all their wickets intact.