THREE (3) teams, namely Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO), Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), yesterday , recorded convincing victories, as first round action in the Georgetown Cricket Association/Queensway Cup Open 50- overs knockout competition ended yesterday.

At the GYO ground on Woolford Avenue, the home team demolished Ace Warriors by 110 runs while at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground GNIC were too strong for Third Class and at the Camp Ayanganna ground, GDF defended their home turf well, with their nine wicket win over Vikings.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, GYO were bowled out for 250 from 41.2 overs, with Ryan Shem topscoring with an unbeaten 54 that was decorated with eight fours while Shivnandan Roopnarine 48 (8×4), John Champagne 38 (7×4) and Kamesh Yadram 28 (6×4) offered their support to Roopnarine.
Abfzal Gafoor and Clayon Douglas took three wickets each for 42 and 44 runs respectively while Delon Azore had 2 for 38 for Ace Warriors, who were bowled out for 140 that was scored off 30.2 overs.
Ronald Hercules struck nine fours in his topscore of 45, Steven Harris made 32 (3×6, 2×4) Azore 17 (3×4) and Douglas 13* (3×4) for the East Ruimveldt based Ace Warriors, who struggled against the bowling of Pravindralall Persaud and Roopnarine who both took three wickets for 8 and 13 runs respectively and Garfield De Rouche’s 2 for 31.
At the MSC ground, Third Class won the toss and decided to bat first against GNIC, but got bowled out for 145 from 34.2 overs, with Alvin Costello 46 (4×6, 1×4) and Yovindra Ramanan 34 (5×4, 1×6) being their leading batsmen.
Jermaine Grosvenor’s 3 for 23, Matthew Marques 2 for 215 and Leroy Bristol 2 for 26 did the damage with the ball for GNIC, who replied with 146 for 1 from 23.4 overs, thanks to Elton Baker and Ranole Bourne who both made an unbeaten 54.
Baker struck four fours and one six and Bourne seven fours and one six, as they added 139 for the second wicket, after GNIC lost Premchand Sukhdeo (06) who was dismissed off Ray Bryan’s bowling for Third Class.
At the GDF ground, the home team bowled out Vikings who, like GYO and Third Class, won the toss and decided to take first strike making 102, which was scored off 27 overs.
Only D. Haynes with 22 proved to be of any resistance to the bowling of Dennis Legay, Jeremiah Harris and Randy Lindore who took 2 wickets each for 12, 14 and 24 runs respectively for GDF, replying with 105 for 1 from 10.5 overs, thanks to Kevon Boodie and Marcus Watkins who made 39* and 27* respectively.
This was after discarded national opener Shemroy Barrington was dismissed for 19, that included three fours and one six, as GDF, GYO and GNIC joined Everest Cricket Club (ECC), Police Sports Club (PSC) and Transport Sports Club (TSC) in the quarterfinal , which bowls off this Saturday.
On that day, defending champions Georgetown Cricket Club will take on PSC,  who surprised MSC in the first round with a 40 run victory at GDF, and GNIC will meet TSC at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground. The following day GDF will host ECC at GDF and DCC, who finished as runners-up to GCC, will take on GYO at DCC.