NEEDING an outright victory to take the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-county four-day title, Demerara achieved such yesterday, following their four-wicket victory over their nemesis and defending champions GT&T Berbice at

the Everest Cricket Club ground.
At the Wales Community Centre ground, no play was possible yesterday due to a wet outfield, forcing the fixture between Essequibo and the President’s XI to end in a draw, with the latter coming away with first-innings points.
GT&T Berbice, who began the final round encounter on 24 points from two wins, in comparison to Demerara’s 18 gained from one outright win and a first-innings win started the final day on 185 for 9 off 72 overs, with Gudakesh Motie on 8 and Keon Joseph 6.
Demerara took 24 minutes into the day’s play to remove the final GT&T Berbice batsman, when Joseph was snapped up at slip by Robin Bacchus off Amir Khan who took 3 for 68 to support Zaheer Mohammed’s 5 for 40.
The dismissal sparked some controversy, as several members from the GT&T Berbice team including Joseph, said the ball touched the ground before it was grasped by Bacchus, an opinion that did little or no cause for their team who added 15 runs to their overnight total, with Joseph moving onto 15 and Motie 13, which included two fours.
Needing to score 79 to complete the win and take the title along with the $200 000 first prize and trophy, Demerara struggled to 56 for 3 at lunch, losing the wickets of Rajendra Chandrika (0) and Bacchus (10), who were both bowled by Clinton Pestano (2 for 16) and Shemroy Barrington who was run-out for 8.
After lunch, they progressed to 59 before Vishal Singh was caught by Delbert Hicks off Motie, who bowled well to finish with 3 for 21, as he later sent back Chandrapaul Hemraj who topscored with 33 that included two fours and a six struck over wide midwicket off Motie, and Mohammed for 5.
GT&T Berbice must have harboured a glimmer of hope, having undergone several dubious umpiring decisions throughout the contest, when Demerara were 74 for 6, but Shaquille Williams 9 (1×4) erased any thoughts from their mind, by hitting Motie for 4 off the final delivery of the 38th over, to seal the win for his team, with Joseph Perry unbeaten at the other end on zero.
At Wales, the President’s XI were bowled out for 157 on the opening day. In reply they bowled out the Cinderella County team for 100, for a lead of 57 runs before closing the second day early on 8 without loss with Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kevon Boodie being the not-out batsmen on 1 and 0 respectively.
At the end of the tournament, Demerara finished on 30 points from two wins and a draw, GT&T Berbice 24 (2 wins), President’s XI 9 (first-innings win and a no-result) and Essequibo 8 (suffered loss after first-innings win and a no-result).