East Bank respond strongly to Upper Corentyne

EAST Bank closed the opening day of their sixth round encounter against Upper Corentyne on 127-3, a promising position, after they dismissed the hosts for 262 on the opening day yesterday at the Port Mourant ground.
At stumps, opener Sachin Singh was unbeaten on 40 while Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed was on 35. The visitors trail first innings by 135 runs, with seven wickets in hand.
Earlier a gutsy 96-run eight-wicket partnership between Clinton Pestano and Eon Hooper rescued Upper Corentyne from a perilous position as they battled to 262 all out.
Pestano’s 82 and Hooper’s even 50 lifted the score to respectability after a calypso collapse had seen the hosts slump to 144-7 at lunch.
On a wicket that offered the bowlers early help, the hosts progressed cautiously to 22-1. However, after Ali-Mohamed removed Kandasammy Surujnarine (11), they collapsed to 122-7 before Pestano and Hooper put them back on track.
Surujnarine dismissal started the top order collapse, with David Latchaya bowled by Keon Morris for six, before left-arm spinner Totaram Bishun claimed the wickets of Balchand Baldeo (38), Rajiv Ivan (14), Joshua Ramsammy (34), and Kevin Sinclair (0).
Ershad Ali claimed the wicket of Andy Mohan for four, but Pestano and Hooper were able to bat the hosts out of trouble.
The duo batted with great assurance, and at the time played some handsome shots, with Pestano hitting six fours and three sixes in 104 balls while Hooper reached the boundary on four occasions, and cleared it once in his knock off 89 deliveries.
Bishun was the most successful bowler for the visitors with 4-50 while Darshan Persaud had 2-46 and Ali finished with figures of 2-62.
In reply, East Bank lost the wickets of Christopher Deonarine (12), Corwin Austin (18), and Mark Robe (6).
Meanwhile, at Young Warriors, West Demerara at stumps were on 284-7, with Tevin Imlach unbeaten on 119.
At Bush Lot Georgetown were bowled out for 155; West Berbice in reply were 226-8.