… Essequibo 72-0, in reply to Select U-17, 244

By Rajiv Bisnauth

LEFT-arm spinner Keshram Seyhodan claimed 5-46 as Demerara overpowered Berbice on the opening day of their second-round Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) sponsored Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Under-19 three-day cricket tournament yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
Joel Seitaram made a well constructed 76 not out and was the backbone of three important partnerships as Berbice staged a recovery from a position of 66-5 to be eventually bowled out for 198.
When play ended at 17:30 hrs, Demerara were 38-0, with openers Ronaldo Renee on 11 and Raymond Perez on 18.
Seyhodan had two good spells with his left-arm spin and was the main tormentor as the Berbice batsmen struggled.
When Berbice began their innings, most of their batsmen struggled to come to grips on a surface that had proven surprisingly challenging during the first two sessions, but the left-hander, Seitaram remained steady, hitting four fours and four sixes, in an innings that spanned 96 balls.
Asked to bat first in murky conditions, Berbice were skittled inside 58 overs. Their openers Adrian Sukwah and Sasenarine Sookhoo added 26 for the first wicket before medium-pacer Ronaldo Alimohamed (1-49) made the first breakthrough when he removed Sukwah for two.
Soon after Sookhoo retired hurt on 22 and in the shortened session when nine overs were possible, Berbice were 33-1.
However, things quickly deteriorated further upon resumption and Berbice lost six wickets during the post-lunch session.
Seyhodan extracted some turn and bounce and was the chief tormentor during that session, but it was medium-pacer Sherfane Rutherford (2-46), who started Berbice’s slide when he trapped Joshua Harrichand leg before wicket for 10.
Seyhodan got into the rhythm and quickly removed Brandon Prashad (1), Matthew Hardial (23) and Randy Wade without scoring.
Sookhoo , who resumed his innings at the fall of Wade’s wicket, staged a mini-recovery with Seitaram and together the pair added 25 for the sixth wicket before Sookhoo was removed by off-spinner Ershad Ali (1-23) for a 35-ball 45, inclusive of nine boundaries.
Shabodan then bowled Asif Ally for two to complete a disastrous session for the defending champions.
Soon after, Travis Persaud (1-24) claimed the wicket of Vevekanand Jagit without scoring, but Berbice staged a steady recovery with Seitaram and Nicholas Seenarine to frustrate Demerara for a brief while in the post-tea session.
Desperate to break the Seitaram-Seenarine partnership, the Demerara skipper reintroduced Rutherford and he immediately made the breakthrough when he had Seenarine edging to first slip for a 26-ball 25.
Seitaram then shared 49 with Raymond Vankenic for the final wicket before Seyhodan claimed the latter to complete his five-wicket haul.
The Demerara openers then negotiated the 14 overs available without much discomfort.
In the other game between Essequibo and the Select Under-17 team at DCC, Essequibo replying to the Select Under-17 team first innings total of 244, were 72 without loss.
Play resumes today at 09:30 hrs at both venues.