HAVING piloted his club to a commanding victory over Ace Warriors the previous day, Dennis Squires returned the following day (Sunday) to steer Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) past Malteenoes Sports Club in their Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)-organised New Building Society-sponsored second division limited overs tournament fixture.
Also recording victories were Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), who both defeated Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) and Vikings by 143 and 142 runs in their respective matches.
At the Everest Cricket Club ground, DCC, who recently celebrated their 100th anniversary, won the toss and asked the Thomas Lands-based MSC side to take first strike on a straw-coloured pitch and in hazy conditions.
It was a move that paid dividends, as the Queenstown-based club, whose Under-19 ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams will be contesting the GCA/David Persaud Investments final at the same venue this Sunday, bowled out their opponents for 183 in 36 overs.
Skipper Shaquille Williams faced 64 deliveries for his 62 that was decorated with four fours, but apart from Delvon McEwan’s 31 and Nichosie Barker who supported with 21, the MSC batting lineup struggled against the bowling of Squires, Lyndon Lyght and Omesh Dhanram, who took two wickets each for 14, 41 and 43 runs respectively.
Despite Steven Sankar, Terrence Poole and Kareem Naughton picking up two wickets each for 8, 39 and 49 runs respectively for MSC, it was all in vain as DCC reached 184 for 6 to win by four wickets, thanks to Squires’ unbeaten 85 that was scored off 59 deliveries, and Dhanram’s 20.
At the GYO ground on Woolford Avenue, the home team asked GNIC to take first strike, to which the visitors said thank you by rattling up 248 before they were bowled out in the 37th over of their innings.
Jason Melville led GNIC”s batting with a belligerent 74 that included eight fours and fours sixes and got support from Matthew Marks who struck seven fours and one six in his unbeaten 63 and Premchand Sookdeo who made 37.
Anand Goolsarran took 4 for 61 from 7 overs, while Richard Hoyte and Mark Hamilton supported with two wickets each for 28 and 38 runs respectively for GYO, who were bowled out for 155, in their turn at the crease.
Opener Loakesh Reid topscored with 45 which included seven fours and one six, while Hoyte made 25, and Garfield De Rouche 21 against the bowling of Orlando Kirton who snared 5 for 24 from 8 overs, to secure GNIC’s victory by a whopping 143 runs.
At the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) ground, GCC won the toss and opting to bat first, scored 233 for 6 from their 40 overs, with Almando Doman leading the way with 83 that was decorated with nine fours and a solitary six.
Martin Pestano-Belle and Shamar Graham offered support with 31 and 20 not out respectively, while Kenny Thomas took 2 for 45 from 8 overs for Vikings, who were bowled out for 91, with Doman returning to claim 6 for 12 for 4.3 overs, while Adrian Persaud led his team’s batting with 23.