Chanderpaul hits unbeaten ton as Demerara take control
… Berbice take first innings points

AFTER their team’s second round defeat at the hands of Berbice, junior Chairman of Selectors Nazimul Drepaul held a serious pep talk with Demerara’s two senior batsmen Tagenarine Chanderpaul and skipper Brian Sattaur.

Whatsoever Drepaul said to the two batsmen, who, along with Shimron Hetmyer, are the senior players in this year’s edition of the Guyana Cricket Board-organised and sponsored event, proved worthy as they made tangible contributions to their team’s total at the end of yesterday’s first day of play of the third and final round.

At the once-famous Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Chanderpaul stroked an unbeaten century which together with 67 from Sattaur and 44 from Shurfane Rutherford steered Demerara who are the defending champions to 253 for 3 off 98 overs.
At Everest Cricket Club ground, Hetmyer stroked a calm 20 for Berbice, who snatched first-innings points from Essequibo, to be in control of their encounter.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Demerara saw Sattaur control his pugnacious attitude by being selective and patient in his shots, as he posted 135 for the first wicket with Chanderpaul.
The pair took their team to lunch at 61 without loss, with Sattaur, who struck a hat-trick of fours off Gavin Moriah, on 35 and Chanderpaul, who displayed his usual sedate and supportive attitude, on 19, and after the break, Sattaur posted his 50 from 129 balls, with eight fours.
Chanderpaul, then reached his 50 from 135 balls, with seven fours, pushing their opening partnership to 118 in the process before Sattaur got a thick outside edge to point into the waiting hands of Ronaldo Ali Mohammed, off Damion Waldron, who later removed Rutherford and Rudolph Singh to end the day with 3 for 63.
In company with Rutherford who was on 25 and with his personal score showing 64, Chanderpaul steered Demerara to the tea break with their score being 169 for 1 off 63 overs. They added 108 runs in the session, with Rutherford being given a life by Michael Shalim who grassed the chance running back to long off, off Waldron, when on 24, just before the break.
After the break, they increased their partnership to 68 before Rutherford was lbw to Waldron, followed quickly by Singh (6), to leave his side on 221 for 3.
Chanderpaul continued to bat cautiously despite the fall of wickets and posted his hundred at 16:30hrs yesterday afternoon, hitting his 11th four through forward squareleg off the 250th delivery he faced, while Demerara progressed to 239 for 3.
In company with Deonarine Seegobin who was unbeaten on 4 at the close, Chanderpaul pushed Demerara to their close of play total, hitting the final delivery of the day from Avishkar Sewkarran for four through midwicket, to be unbeaten on 113 (265 balls, 13×4).
Meanwhile at Everest, Berbice closed the opening day with a first-innings lead of 46 runs with five wickets in hand, reaching 168-5 in 49 overs, with opener Balchand Baldeo unbeaten on 64 (3×4) and Hakeem Hinds 12.
Earlier, Berbice bowlers put up a good show to restrict Essequibo for a paltry total of 122-9, with Keanu Harry unable to bat, requesting time off to write his Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) exams.
The Essequibians had no answer to combat the skills of the Berbicians’ attack, with off-spinner and skipper Sharaz Ramcharran, turning the ball appreciably. He was the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 4-25.
Apart from Mahindra Balbadar (39), three other players, opener Avenash Persaud (37), Akil Wallace (12) and Travis Drakes (11) reached double digits with the innings coming to an abrupt end after lunch with only 43 overs bowled.
Medium pacer Grisean Grant scalped 3-27 and leg-spinner Viendra Gooniah had 2-24 in support to Ramcharran, following which Hetmyer, Viendra Gooniah (17), Ashkay Homraj (18), Ramcharran (2) and David Latchaya (17) were all dismissed by the Cinderella County lads.

(By Calvin Roberts)