NATIONAL opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika struck a patient ton for Everest Cricket Club (ECC) whose Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) organized Hadi’s Mall Incorporated sponsored two -day first division encounter against host Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), ended in a stalemate yesterday. Chandrika struck 14 fours in his 124, as ECC who won the toss and opted to bat first on the first day, last Saturday, took their overnight score from 154 for 4 to 350 for 7 declared in the contest which saw four other batsmen hitting half centuries for their respective clubs.
Ryan Ramdass 53 (8×4), Troy Gonsalves 51 (8×4), Zaheer Mohammed 37 (2×6, 2×4), Dayanand Roopnarine 34 (3×4) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul 23 (3×4), offered support to Chandrika who added 70 for the fifth wicket with Mohammed, and a further 80 for the sixth wicket with Gonsalves.
Raj Nannan took 3 for 92 for GCC, who in their turn at the crease found themselves wobbling at 49 for 5, having lost Jeetendra Sookdeo (01), skipper Robin Bacchus (06), Winston Forrester (02), Almando Doman (14) and Joshua Wade without scoring, to the bowling of Mohammed and Gonsalves who took 2 wickets each for 31 and 43 runs respectively.
However, a resilient 139 runs sixth wicket partnership between Gavin Singh (86, 12×4) and Alex Ramalho who made an unbeaten 57 that was decorated with six fours and one six, did not only repair the damage for their team, but also placed a halt on ECC’s march for first innings points.
The game was called off when Singh was run out, attempting a cheeky single but not before he saw Ramalho displayed a level of seniority during their partnership, by hitting Garfield De Rouche for back to back boundaries with disdain, as he inched to his maiden first division half century. (Calvin Roberts)