… Essequibo, Select U-17 game also end in stalemate

By Rajiv Bisnauth
DEMERARA dominated the third and final day of their second round Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-sponsored Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Under-19 three-day cricket tournament, but had to settle for a draw against Berbice when play ended yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.Demerara were scenting an incredible triumph after securing a first-innings lead of 152 and reducing the visitors to 42-2, but a rusty Berbice outfit overcame the scare.
When play ended with the mutual consent of the two captains and nine mandatory overs still to be bowled, Berbice were 93-2 with Matthew Hardial on 21 and Joel Seitaram on 22.
Earlier openers Ronaldo Renee and Raymond Perez hit contrasting centuries to put Demerara in total control.
Renee had scored an unbeaten 165 when the declaration was made while Perez notched a sedate 113, and was the only wicket to fall during the morning session.
The pair piled on 294 for the first wicket before Demerara declared at 351-2, 23 minutes after lunch.
Having established their dominance during the final session on day two, both Renee and Perez began the morning cautiously. Resuming on 89, Renee eventually reached his hundred by hammering Nicholas Sewnarine for consecutive boundaries.
Renee’s century came off 186 balls with 13 fours and 268 minutes in the middle.
His partner Perez, who resumed on 64, was a little more circumspect. However, Perez survived two chances after wicketkeeper Adrian Sukwah put him down on 76 and then spilled a mis-stumped chance when Perez on 94..That, however, did not disturb his composure and he ultimately brought up his hundred with a single behind point from 313 deliveries.
The pair continued to punish a labouring Berbice bowling attack, with Renee scoring at will, peppering the boundary and bringing up his 150 from 261 deliveries.
However, off-spinner Asif Ally (1-65) provided Berbice with the vital breakthrough after a poor shot execution brought Perez’s downfall.
His innings spanned 329 balls, six fours and a six in 391 minutes at the crease. Sherfane Rutherford joined Renee and together took Demerara to lunch at 311-1, with Renee on 159 and Rutherford on 16.
After the interval, the intent was clear and Rutherford took over command, hitting a series of boundary before he was trapped leg-before-wicket to Raymond Vankenic (1-36) for 46.
Renee, who earned the Man-of-the-Match award, batted for 470 minutes, with the aid of 18 scorching boundaries.
Berbice were left to survive the 65 remaining overs in the day’s play, but lost both openers, Sukwah and Sasenarine Sookhoo, by the close of the post-lunch session.
Sukwah was bowled by left-arm spinner Keshram Seyhodan for four while Sookhoo was trapped leg-before-wicket to off-spinner Ershad Ali for 22.
Hardial and Seitaram then halted the panic and thwarted Demerara’s slim hopes by adding an unbeaten 51 for the third wicket.
Meanwhile, Essequibo and the Select Under-17 team played to a tame draw in the other second round game played at DCC. Scores in the match; Select Under-17 244 and 192-5, Essequibo 180 and 127-3.
The third and final round starts tomorrow with Essequibo playing Demerara at GCC and Berbice opposing the Select Under-17 team at Wales.