HAVING taken first innings points over their hapless opponents the previous day (Saturday), Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) all completed innings victories on the final day yesterday.
Playing in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) organised Carib Beer/Friends of Cricket/Heroes Cup two- day first division competition, all three teams defeated Transport Sports Club (TSC), Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) and Police Sports Club (PSC) to heighten the battle for supremacy in the tournament.
At Queenstown, the home team who had a commanding first innings lead of 258 runs, reduced TSC to 46 for 4 at the end of the first day and wasted little or no time in bowling out their opponents for 103 inside 34.1 overs yesterday.
Carl Rambharose started the day on 10 and added 7 more before he was dismissed, hitting three fours in the process, while Oslyn Batson also struck three fours in his 17, against the bowling of Totaram Bishun who took 3 for 39, Derwin Christian 2-0 and Andre Stoll 2 for 8, which ensured DCC won by an innings and 155 runs.
At the MSC ground on Thomas Lands, the home team which resumed on their overnight score of 305 for 6 with Orin Forde on 21, declared their first innings closed at 354 for 8 and a handsome lead of 240 with Forde going on to make 53 (5×4, 1×6) while Kellon Carmichael contributed 19 (2×4, 1×6).
Seon Crawford took 4 for 53 and Vishal Jaigobin 3 for 71 for PSC, who were limited to 137 for 9, before declaring their innings close, following Randolph Knights inability to bat due to a fractured left shoulder.
Trevor Benn struck five four sin his top score of 27, Crawford three fours and one six in his 26, Imran Mohammed three fours in his 26 and Shameer Fazal four fours in his 22 for PSC, who found it difficult to negotiate the bowling of Anthony Atwell (3 for 9), Steven Jacobs (2 for 28) and Danny Narayan who also took 2 for 37.
At the GCC ground, the home team who had earlier dismissed GYO for 114 on the first day and replied with 213 for 1 at the end of the day’s play, went on to score 333 without any further loss, thanks to Robin Bacchus’ unbeaten 200.
The left handed opener who began the day on 112, struck 31 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten double century, while Jeetendra Sookdeo who was unbeaten on 70 when play began, reached 102 at the declaration, counting 13 fours and one six.
Trailing their host by 219 runs, GYO’s second innings got off to a disastrous start when they lost the wickets of Abhilash Dookie and Ryan Shun, who were both dismissed without scoring by Joshua Wade (2 for 24) in the first over.
At lunch, they were 20 for 2 with Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Anthony Ifill on 10 each and after the luncheon break, they set about ‘Operation Recovery’ for their team by adding 53 for the third wicket before disaster in the form of Winston Forrester struck.
The spinner ended with 4 for 17 and along with Devon Lord who took 2 for 7, help catapult GYO’s innings for 80 in their second innings, of which Chanderpaul topscored with 33 (2×4) and Ifill made 18.