By Rajiv Bisnauth

BERBICE were left to rue three avoidable dismissals late on day two, as Essequibo were staging a gutsy fightback at stumps on the second day of the opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-sponsored Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Under-19 three-day cricket tournament yesterday at Enterprise.When the bails were lifted, Berbice were 71-5, still 175 runs behind in replying to Essequibo’s 246 with their hopes now resting on the shoulders of Joshua Harrichand (34) and Ritesh Omroa (2).
Left-arm spinner Akinie Adams struck three times, while skipper Keemo Paul had two wickets to put their team in pole position after a late start due to a soggy run-up area on the northern end of the ground.
Resuming at their overnight 71-2, Essequibo never managed to build up enough momentum to challenge their opposition, as Paul provided the lone resistance on a day of abject surrender by most of their batsmen.
Paul, who resumed on 25, never looked in any serious trouble during his knock of 85, putting on 119 with overnight partner Sachin Persaud before off leg-spinner Prashad (2-25) removed the latter for 17.
The West Indies Under-19 all-rounder, however, fell just before lunch after being caught behind off left-arm spinner Joel Seetram (2-63) and upon resumption his Essequibo side suffered a batting meltdown from 180-5 to 204-9 with Ally (4-88) as the chief tormentor.
The last pair of Siddiq Mohamed (21*) and Dwayne Thomas then played positively, taking the attack to the spinners and added 42 for the final wicket before the later was bowled by Nicholas Seenarine. Mohamed was left unbeaten on 21.
Paul returned to bowl Trevon Caesar (0) and then to remove Adrian Sukwah (4) by breaking the outside edge with the score at 4-2.
Harrichand, who survived a dropped chance when he was on seven and a run-out chance on 14 along with Matthew Hardial then crafted 45 for the third wicket, as the defending champions fought doggedly to lift themselves out of danger following crippling setbacks after they lost both openers.
However, just when the batsmen looked somewhat comfortable, Adams removed both Hardial (14) and Seetram (0) with consecutive deliveries to leave Berbice at 49-4.
Adams then removed Prashad, caught at the wicket for 12.
Meanwhile, in the other game at Wales; the Select Under-17 reached 58-3, batting a second time after Demerara were bowled out for 190 in their first innings.
The Select Under-17 still trail Demerara first-innings lead of 100, by 42 runs.