Dick eases GNIC past DCC ‘A’, as GCC trounce Bel Air RUBiS
… TSC and MSC also record victories

IT WAS billed as the battle of the point leaders and certainly, neither defending champions Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ‘A’ nor their guests Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) disappointed the spectators who turned up at the DCC ground yesterday, to witness their Georgetown Cricket Association/BrainStreet Under-15 matchup.

However, the bowling of David Dick who kept his nerves to claim 5 for 12, was instrumental in handing GNIC a nail-biting one-run win over their hosts – a win that placed one hand on the League title of the competition.
Opting to bat first in hazy conditions, GNIC, who on the previous day had defeated DCC ‘B’ by 178 runs, thanks to an unbeaten ton from skipper Joshua Persaud, were bowled out for 84 off 36.4 overs, with only Paul Thomas 13, Christopher Campbell 11 and Haifa Walters 10 reaching double figures.
Persaud and another in-form batsman Kurt Lovell managed 2 before they were both dismissed by national Under-15 left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd who took 4 for 20 and got support from Sagar Hetheramani (3 for 16) and Otto Jones 2 for 12.
Asked to score 85 to win off 65 overs, a confident-looking DCC ‘A’ lineup took the lunch break on 43 for 3, with Darion Dickson unbeaten on 30 which included three fours that were paddle-swept to fine leg off Ricky Dass (2 for 27), who had earlier removed Reeaz Ally (2) and Alphius Bookie (5), while Persaud accounted for Bhojnarine Singh (2).
After the break, Dickson was bowled by a delivery that kept low from Orlando Ghisiawan (2 for 11), before Dick took over proceedings and sent back Nedd (9), who had back-to-back fours off Dass, while he mopped up the tail with ease.
He completed the win for the Woolford Avenue-based GNIC team, by knocking back the off stump of the lanky Junior Phillips (2), who had earlier refused a single off the final delivery of the previous over from his teammate Kristoff DeNobrega, handing GNIC the win by one run.
At the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, the home team faced and defeated Bel Air RUBiS by three wickets, having bowled out the visitors for 76 which was scored off 27.5 overs, with Extras topscoring with 33, while Anthony Sukhai and Delon McAlister made 9 each.
Stephon Wilson took 5 for 25 for GCC, who in reply reached 79 for 7 from 26.2 overs, thanks to Extras which contributed a healthy 34 to their total, backed by 16 from Joshua Raghubir and 13 from Wilson, even though Michael Pooran and Vishal Moorchand took 3 wickets each for 11 and 18 runs respectively.
At the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground, the home team bowled out Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) for 158 off 45 overs, led by Pradesh Balkissoon 26, Navindra Persaud 25 (2×4) and Ronald Basdeo’s 22 which included four fours.
Stece Norville took 4 for 26 and Timothy Mitchell 2 for 27 for MSC, who in reply reached 159 for 4 off 46.1 overs, thanks to unbeaten innings from Norville and Ronald McGarrell who both made 35 and 30 from Arvin Gangadin, even as Namit Chaddrang took 2 for 26 in a losing cause for GYO.
At Everest, Transport Sports Club batted first and posted 177 all out off 36 overs with Adrian Hinds 40 (2×4), Colin Barlow 39 (1×4) and Mark Ramsammy 15 which included one six and four, being the leading scorers.
Damian Persaud took 2 for 11 and Zaheer Bristol 2 for 20 for the home team, who in reply were bowled out for 88 off 30.1 overs with Joshua Persaud 39 (8×4) and Yeudistir Persaud 16 (2×4) being the lone batsmen to show resistance to Joel Spooner (5 for 22) and Barlow (2 for 14).
The action will continue today with several matches at venues across the city, including DCC where the two home teams namely DCC ‘A’ and ‘B’ will meet, even as GCC take on Everest at GCC.

(By Calvin Roberts)