BAD LIGHT, overcast conditions and a tame draw brought the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior Inter-county four-day matchup between Berbice and the GCB Developmental XI to a close at the Wales Community Centre ground yesterday.
Scores: Berbice 418 and 273 for 9 decl’d, GCB Developmental XI 366 and 51 for 1.
Berbice resumed the day on 136 for 4, with Narsingh Deonarine on 55 and Keon Joseph yet to score for a lead of 188, after bowling out their opponents the previous day for 366, in reply to their 418.
They quickly lost Joseph (1) who was caught by Ashkay Homraj at short extra cover off Kemo Paul in the second over of the day’s play, while Paul dropped a return chance offered by Royston Crandon in his next over.
Crandon rode his luck well to add 54 for the sixth wicket with Deonarine, who was caught at point by Homraj off Shiraz Ramcharran for 77 (190 balls, 2×4, 3×6) at 196 for 6 and 20 minutes before lunch, which was taken with Berbice 219 for 6 with Crandon on 33 and Anthony Bramble 16.
After the break, Berbice lost both Bramble and Crandon to Ramcharran, who, in tandem with Jacobs and Steven Sankar, continued to toil away at the Ancient County batsmen, with Ramcharran bowling back-to-back maidens after the break for the two quick wickets.
Crandon made 40 (92 balls, 2×4) and Bramble 24 (3×4, 28 balls), before Jacobs took a well-judged catch at slip to dismiss Bramble, while Crandon was bowled to a delivery that kept low in the Albion Cricket Club’s off-spinner’s next over.
Bad light stopped play at 13:19hrs, with Berbice on 250 for 8, an overall lead of 302 with Veerasammy Permaul on 13 inclusive of two fours struck off Jacobs and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai to bring a premature end to the contest for 20 minutes.
Play was restarted and only 1.4 overs were bowled, before the players and officials left the field a second time for bad light at 13:50hrs, with Berbice adding 5 to their previous score, while an early tea break was taken in heavily overcast conditions.
Berbice declared their second innings close at 15:00hrs on 273 for 9, with Motie and Johnson unbeaten on 13 and 0 respectively, while Paul and Ramcharran ended with three wickets each for 41 and 70 runs respectively.
Asked to bat one hour before the schedule close of play, the Developmental XI saw Shimron Hetmyer hit Joseph for two fours in his first over, while Tagenarine Chanderpaul followed suit with a boundary of his own off Johnson in the following over.
The introduction of Jonathan Foo saw the demise of Chanderpaul (16, 2×4), who feathered the first ball from the leg-spinner into the waiting gloves of Bramble, with the game being brought to a close shortly after, with Developmental XI 51 for 1, with Hetmyer unbeaten on 34 (4×4).
Meanwhile, at the brief presentation ceremony which followed, GCB secretary Anand Sanasie applauded all four teams for their contribution to the tournament making it a success, even as he extended heartfelt gratitude to West Indies middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, for his contribution to the Developmental XI in their final game.
Sanasie, in the presence of GCB TDO Colin Stuart, Senior and Junior Chairman of Selectors Rayon Griffith and Nazimul Drepaul, and Match Referee Grantley Culbard, applauded Demerara for coming out on top in the four-team tournament as well.
Demerara’s Rajendra Chandrika was named Best Batsman for his 402 runs inclusive of a first round double ton against Berbice and Most Valuable Player, while Essequibo’s left-arm spinner and skipper Anthony Adams and Jacobs were jointly named Best Bowler.
For winning the competition, Demerara received a cheque for $100 000 and a trophy while Berbice uplifted half that amount and a trophy as their runner-up spoils.
(By Calvin Roberts)
