-Demerara in control over Berbice
FOLLOWING their second round victories over Essequibo and President’s XI respectively, defending champions Demerara and their longtime nemesis Berbice met in the final round of this year’s Guyana Cricket Board/Igloo Under-15 Inter-county tournament at the Everest Cricket Club ground, yesterday.However, it was Demerara who won the toss and posted 186 for 5 from their 42 overs, with Alphius Bookie continuing his impressive showing with the bat scoring an unbeaten 64 that was decorated with six fours from 92 balls, that took the ascendancy at the end of the day’s play.
Ashmead Nedd showed he is no rabbit with the bat, supporting Bookie with his authoritative 34 that took him 36 balls to accumulate and included four fours, as he added 50 for the fifth wicket with Bookie before he was run out.
Earlier in the Demerara innings, skipper Bhaskar Yadram got 24 (28 balls, 3×4) before he was caught by Kevin Sinclair at mid-on off Kris Ramnarine, with the fielder doing a somersault after completing the catch, while first round centurion Joshua Persaud chipped in with 23 (41balls, 2×4) before he was given out lbw off Sinclair, despite getting a thick inside edge onto his pads.
Kurt Lovell and Paul Thomas contributed 15 each to the defending champions’ total, as Ramnarine ended with 2 for 47 and Junior Williams and Sinclair one wicket each for Berbice, who were shakily placed at 37 for 3 at one stage in their reply, before being dismissed for a paltry 92.
Sinclair led their batting with a resilient 55 (109 balls, 4×4), posting his 50 from 93 balls with three fours, but as wickets tumbled at the other end to Nedd, who took 4 for 25 and Anthony Antonio 2 for 9, the Ancient County team found it difficult to mount a challenge to the home team’s total.
With a lead of 94, Demerara increased same to 196 at the close of play, having reached 102 for 6 off 28 overs, with Yadram leading the way with 40 (48balls, 5×4) and Persaud 32 (27balls,, 4×4; 1×6), the two adding 41 for the first wicket, while Yadram added an additional 31 for the second wicket with Bookie (10) before they were both dismissed.
At the close of play, Sagar Hetheramani and Azim Ally were the not out batsmen for Demerara on 1 and 0 respectively, while Javed Karim has so far taken 2 for 9 for Berbice, who will be hoping to wrap up the home team’s innings early and force a come from behind win.
At the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Christopher Campbell brought his talent to the fore with his unbeaten 106 for the President’s XI, guiding them to 187 for 4 from their 43 overs.
Campbell was in a destructive mode, hitting 13 fours and one six from the 107 deliveries he faced in total, posting his 100 from 101 balls with 12 fours and the six as he added 99 for the second wicket with Anil Singh (21).
Shamar Dasrath took 2 for 21 for Essequibo, who were bowled out for 115 in reply, with Orlando Jailall leading the way with 22 (47balls, 3×4), receiving support from Trevor Collins 21 (42balls, 3×4) and Leandro Bennett 17 (14balls, 4×4), with Bennett and Collins adding 24 for the eighth wicket.
Stephon Wilson took 4 for 15 and Junior Phillips 2 for 42 for President’s XI, who at the close of play were 71 for 1, with Mark Ramsammy and Campbell unbeaten on 25 each, taking a lead of 143 into the final day’s play today.
By Calvin Roberts