DCC, PSC locked in battle for first-innings honours

HOSTS DEMERARA Cricket Club (DCC) and Police Sports Club (PSC) were locked in battle for first-innings points at the end of the first day of their Georgetown Cricket Association/Noble House Seafoods second division two-day semifinal which is being played at the DCC ground in Queenstown.

After winning the toss and opting to field first, DCC restricted PSC to 172 for 6 at lunch before a belligerent 48 from Darson LaRose that was decorated with five sixes, pushed PSC to 250 all out off 66.2 overs after the lunch interval.
In reply, Shurfane Rutherford (48) and Raymond Perez added 64 for the first wicket before they were both dismissed by Vishal Jaigobin, as DCC reached 94 for 2 off 28 overs at the close of play, still needing 157 more for first-innings points.
When PSC batted, they quickly lost Troy Benn (1) who was caught at the wicket by Tevin Imloch off Rutherford, before Brentnol Woolford and Pernell London added 46 for the second wicket. Woolford was then caught by Lyndon Lyght off Yenkini Favorite for 18 that included four fours.
Favorite placed himself on a hat-trick when he sent back Kord Griffith (0) first ball to leave PSC on 47 for 3, but Sheldon Agard avoided the hat-trick adding 25 for the fourth wicket with London, before national Under-15 left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd removed Griffith at 72 for 4.
London was next to go, lbw to the veteran Dennis Squires for 42 (6×4, 1×6) at 96 for 5, at which point Kelvin Leitch who made 36 (3×4, 1×6) and Rawle Enmore 40 (4×4, 1×6) added 61 for the sixth wicket, before Leitch was run-out at 161 for 6.
After lunch, PSC lost Jason McAlmont (1), Enmore and Jaigobin (0) to be 174 for 9, but LaRose, displaying a never-say-die attitude, in partnership with Richard Leacock (19*, 2×4; 1×6) added 76 valuable runs for the 10 wicket to push PSC to 250, before LaRose was run-out.
Favorite finished with 3 for 36 and Lyght 2 for 45 for DCC, who watched as Rutherford tore into PSC attack, hitting LaRose over midwicket for 6, followed by another massive six over backward square leg, which was preceded by a crisp extra cover drive.
However, in his attempt to hit Jaigobin over long on, he found the safe hands of Griffith after counting six fours and two sixes in his 48 and was followed seven runs later by Perez who was lbw to Jaigobin for 24, which included three well timed fours.
At the close of play, Imloch was unbeaten on 14 (3×4) and with him was Andrew Gibson, who looked solid for his unbeaten 12 (2×4), as DCC are 157 runs away from taking first-innings points and earning themselves a place in the final.

(By Calvin Roberts)