Vicious Bailey gives GCC control on day one

FIESTY medium-fast bowling from Bernard Bailey, which produced six wickets, propelled GCC to honours on the first day of the Georgetown Cricket Association’s Noble House Seafoods Two-Day Second-Division Cricket final at the GCC ground, Bourda.
At the close of play, yesterday, the home team had reached 80-3, 27 runs short of Police’s first innings score of 107 all out.

On paper, the lawmen were not expected to crumble the way they did; they had a quality batting lineup, including former national U-19 player Kemol Savory and the classy Andrew Lyght Jr. among a few other well known names, but Bailey produced something special.
He was disciplined and fierce and his deliveries were impactful.

The right-arm seamer collaborated well with West Indies U-19 fast bowler, Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed when GCC won the toss and opted to bowl first. Ali-Mohamed did the early damage as he got the wickets of Reginald Rodrigues (0) and Savory (0) to peg the visitors at 2-4.

Bailey then took control, despite more free-flowing shots from the lawmen on the slow outfield. He got the wickets of Paul Tyndell (23) and Lyght (10) and then later that of set batsman, Jason Heyliger, who faced 101 balls for his top score of 32 (3x4s). After picking up the three scalps, Bailey cleaned up the tail.
In his 10th over, he got two wickets in two balls, trapping Trevor Benn (17) and Eon Rodrigues (0) LBW. He then bowled Hemchand Persaud after lunch as Police folded in 47.5 overs.

Bailey finished with 6-36 from 14.5 overs, while Ali-Mohamed and Timothy McAlmont supported with two wickets each.

POLICE FIGHT BACK
Despite their below-par batting performance, the lawmen did not give up in the field; they were alert and assertive and made batting difficult for the home team openers.
Although he was not rewarded, Rodrigues was impressive. He bowled a solid line and length and got the edge twice, but both fell short of the slips. It was, however, Skipper Kester Harcourt who broke through when he knocked the off-stump of GCC’s captain, Khemraj Jaikaran.

Andsuegga Rodrigues then joined Deonarine Seegobin and the pair batted themselves in. Rodrigues scored 16 before he was caught and bowled by off-spinner Heyliger.
Seegobin was patient and watchful at the crease; he built his innings well and looked solid to return to the pavilion unbeaten, but was undone while attempting a quick single while partnering Ali-Mohamed.

The all-rounder struck three fours in his 82-ball score of 42.
When play continues today, Ali-Mohamed will resume on his overnight score of 16, and McAlmont will continue on two.