Demerara, President’s X1 victorious after round one

BOTH Demerara and the President’s X1 registered comprehensive wins in round one of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-sponsored Dave West Indian Imports Inter-County Under-15, 50-over tournament yesterday at separate venues in the capital city.
Demerara whipped the defending champions, Berbice by 56 runs, while the President’s X1 completed a six-wicket win over a hapless Essequibo side.

A spirited Demerara team managed to defend the small total of 166-7, restricting Berbice from a position of 66-1 to 110 all out from the last ball of their allotted overs.
The victory was set up courtesy of a spirited bowling effort, led by spinners Krisan Singh (3-14, who was named man-of-the-match and Aliv Mohabir (2-13), while medium-pacers, Tuddue Lovell and Jaash Charles claimed 2-8 and 1-16 respectively.

Earlier, the defending champions’ bowlers produced a disciplined bowling and fielding effort to restrict Demerara to the modest total but their batsmen then failed to deliver with the bat, with only openers Rampertab Ramnauth (37), Ravishkar Sobhai (14), and Damion Cecil (10) reaching double figures.

Demerara opener, Jadan Campbell, top-scored with 35, while Lovell (34) and Mavindra Dindyal (22), were the other two key contributors with the bat. Off-spinner Matthew Pottaya claimed 4-27.

Winning the toss and deciding to bat on a traditional Bourda wicket, flat and slow, the hosts seized the early advantage with openers Campbell and Romeo Deonarain putting their side in a position of comfort.

Both openers started off cautiously, but as the innings progressed, they grew in confidence.
The right-handed Campbell, who was put down by wicket-keeper Damion Cecil prior to his dismissal, was the dominant contributor, hitting three boundaries in a stand of 65, which lasted for 22.4 overs.

However, after the impressive opening stand, Campbell was brilliantly caught at long-on off Pottaya while the left-handed Deonarain was run out for 10 in the space of 17 deliveries. The home side then lost Alvin Mohabir, leg before to Pottaya without scoring at 71-3.
Skipper Dindyal and Lovell then added 41 runs for the fourth-wicket before Dindyal was run out, but the Berbice bowlers maintained a disciplined line and length to restrict the scoring significantly thereafter.

The visiting team’s openers, Ramnauth and Ravishkr Sobhai, then posted a 61-run first wicket partnership. They scored at a slow rate which eventually cost them the game. However, when the partnership was broken, the innings fell apart.
Clueless – Essequibo crash to six-wicket defeat
Essequibo suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the President’s X1 counterparts at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

A dismal batting performance saw them being bundled out for 116 in 42.1 overs.
The Cinderella County side were lacklustre in all departments of the game as they slipped to the level of the indifferent, allowing their opponents a comfortable six-wicket victory.

Asked to bat first and on a pitch which held no terrors, Essequibo’s total was possible due to a ninth-wicket stand of 36 runs between Aryan Doodnauth (26) and Gladewin Henry (five not out). The pair came together at 56-8, after spinners Sachin Balgobin (4-13), Nityanand Mathura (2-19), and Budram Lakeram (1-23), did the early damage.

However, when the partnership was broken by spinner Sanjay Algoo, Sherwin Stoll (14), hit three consecutive boundaries to take Essequibo pass the 100-run mark. Dillion Ramsaroop (1-13), was the other successful bowler.

In reply, the President’s X1 reached 117-4 in 30.4 overs with man-of-the match Anthony Khan hitting a composed 50, inclusive of eight boundaries. He received support from Algoo with an unbeaten 35.

Terrence Softleight claimed 3-19 in a losing effort.
The tournament continues today with Essequibo playing Berbice at Lusignan while Demerara and the President’s X1 do battle at Everest.