THE Essequibo Coast T20 Invitational tournament which is being co-sponsored by the South and Central Cricket committees got underway on Sunday with two matches at the Reliance Sports ground.
In the first encounter Young Warriors secured a 7-wicket win against hosts Reliance Hustlers. Winning the toss and batting first after the game was reduced to 17 overs due to a late start, Reliance Hustlers rallied to 121 all-out in the last over with opener Suresh Persaud top-scoring with 49 including 7x4s and 1×6, to be the only batsman showing any significant resistance.

Penetrative bowling from Danesh Narine with 3-18 from 3 overs and Kishan Jaikarran 3-29 from 4 overs strangled their opponents. In reply, an impressive unbeaten half-century by Boodram Laldass, whose 74 was studded with 12 fours and 2 sixes, was mainly responsible for Young Achievers raeching their target of 122-3 in the 15th over for a comfortable victory.
Fast medium pacer Sherwin Fraser bowled steadily to claim 2-27 from three overs in a losing cause.
In the second game which was allotted the full complement of 20 overs, Crown XI proved superior against Reliance Masters.

Crown XI, batting first after winning the toss, amassed 154-8 from their allotted 20 overs with Beesham Dasrat stroking an impressive 61 (5×4, 2×6) while he was supported by Ramsingh Tageballie, who made 35 containing 3×4.
Former Essequibo inter-county player Elroy Stephney produced figures of 2-24 from 4 overs while Premnauth Persaud had 2-31 from 3 overs.

In reply, despite a steady start, Reliance Masters were eventually subdued by some penetrative bowling and were restricted to 104-9 when the overs expired.
A last-wicket unbeaten partnership of 45 between Dhaniram 28 (5×4) and Dhanpaul Bennie 23 (2×4) delayed the inevitable as Crown XI convincingly won by 50 runs.

An accurate spell of swing bowling by Tamesh Deonarine whose 3-15 from 4 overs and Shastri Persaud’s 2-18 from 2 overs spearheaded the destruction of their hosts. Meanwhile the competition will continue with a number of other matches along the Essequibo Coast. According to one of the organiser, Trevis Simon, the tournament is being played in four zones comprising four teams in each zone.

the other teams in the competition are Cotton Field, Affiance No.1, Imam Bacchus XI and a Masters XI.
Simon disclosed that trophies and other incentives will be at stake. He also indicated that it is the intention of the two committees to decentralise cricket across the Region as well as having the players experience different playing conditions and scenarios.