By Rajiv Bisnauth
LOWER Corentyne pulled off a stunning 32-run win over Upper Corentyne in the Jaguars Franchise League,Three-day competition when the third round ended yesterday at the Port Mourant Cricket Club ground.A stunning performance by the bowlers, especially left-arm spinner Kassim Khan, backed by excellent fielding,helped Lower Corentyne defend a small total of 148, as Upper Corentyne were bowled out for 115 in 43.4 overs.
Khan spun ‘webs’ around the Upper Corentyne batsmen to scalp 6-23 off 15.4 overs, in a spectacular display of left-arm spin bowling.
While Khan was the wrecker-in-chief, fellow spinner Sharaz Ramcharran chipped in with 2-37, with pacer Raun Johnson, and Gajanand Singh, being the other two wicket takers.
Joshua Ramsammy played something of a lone hand, with 44, but the other batsmen failed to make any impact on a spinner-friendly pitch.
Play resumed on the final day at 12:10hrs, after early morning rain washed out the entire first session.
Resuming at 25-2, Upper Corentyne panicked and crumbled;losing wickets at regular intervals.
They were plunged into strife as early as the seventh over in the day’s play,when Khan removed Rajiv Ivan (17) with the score at 46-3.
The other overnight batsman, Joshua Ramsammy, then added 24 for the fourth wicket with Clinton Pestano, but Ramcharran then drove home the advantage for his side with the wickets of Pestano (8) and Anthony Bramble (2), to leave Upper Corentyne at 73-5.
Singh then trapped Arif Chan, leg before wicket for one before Khan claimed the final four wickets, including Ramsammy, to complete his side’s third straight win in the tournament.
In an invited comment, assistant coach Andre Percival said he was delighted with the win, adding that “it feels very good; we played some good cricket, especially after we conceded a first innings lead.
“I was pretty confident of our bowlers,” Percival pointed out.
Meanwhile, scores in the other games are as follows:
At Bourda: Early morning showers forced play to be called off at 14:05 hours. Georgetown had reached 63/3 after dismissing East Coast Demerara for 148 on day 2.
At Everest: Play was called off at 11:35 hours after early morning showers.
The fourth round commences on September 16, with East Bank playing Lower Corentyne at Everest, West Demerara clashing with Upper Corentyne at Wales, East Coast Demerara and West Berbice play each other at Enmore, and Georgetown taking on Essequibo at GCC.