Essequibo beat Lower Corentyne by 34 runs

ESSEQUIBO defeated reigning champions Lower Corentyne by 34 runs yesterday in round one of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Jaguars Franchise League 3-day competition, at Albion Community Development Centre ground.
Scores in the match: Essequibo 274 and 125; Lower Corentyne 175 and 190.
Resuming at 108-6, an overall lead of 207, Essequibo were quickly bowled out for 125.
Raun Johnson, Kevin Umrao and Kassim Khan claimed three wickets apiece, while Devon Clements was the other successful bowler.
Set 225 for victory, Lower Corentyne run-chase started in terrible fashion. They slipped to 12-3, losing Jason Sinclair (0), bowled by Ricardo Adams, while Joshua Jones had the wickets of Akeem Hinds and Wahied Edwards.
However, Kevlon Anderson and Seon Hetmyer took the total to 43 at lunch.
However, the 39-run fourth-wicket stand came to an end when Anthony Adams removed Anderson for 22.
Clements joined Hetmyer and the pair batted with great assurance and took the total to 137 at tea, with Clements on 49, while Hetmyer was on 46.
Upon resumption the pair took their personal scores to 55 and 67 respectively before both batsmen were dismissed, and eventually the team collapsed, with only Alex Algoo (20), managing double figures of the remaining batsmen.
Bowling for Essequibo, Ricardo Adams picked up 5-59, while Jones and Anthony Adams picked up 2-14, and 3-53 respectively.
Esseqibo joined Upper Corentyne and Upper Demerara/East Bank, as the first-round victors.
The other first-round game between East Coast and West Demerara at Wales was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Meanwhile, in round two, Upper Corentyne will play East Coast at Port Mourant; Georgetown will host Lower Corentyne at Lusignan; West Berbice will take on Essequibo at Bush Lot and East Bank and West Demerara will clash at Ogle.
The second round starts on Friday.