– Demerara also victorious

DEFENDING champions Berbice, rebounded from their first round defeat in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-sponsored Dave West Indian Imports Inter-County Under-15 50-over tournament, to whip a miserable Essequibo team by 257 runs yesterday at Lusignan.

After sufferring a shock 55-run defeat to Demerara on Monday, at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, the Berbicians produced a clinical all-round effort to put their title defence back on track.

The defending champions first set the pace for the dominant victory with opener, 13-year-old Rampertab Ramnauth, hitting an unbeaten 147, justifying the captain’s decision to bat first after he won the toss.

Ramnauth’s innings took the Berbicians to a formidable 290-3. Thereafter, their bowlers led by their spinners created the damage. Off-spinner Matthew Pottaya followed up his 4-27 against Demerara, to finished with 3-12. He received support from left-arm spinner Bhaskar Dhani (2-9), off-spinner Salim Khna (2-6), and medium pacer Deroop (1-10).

The Essequibians’ lack of fight with the bat has continued, and the phone number-like scorecard will once again haunt the team. However, the poor form of the County’s performances at all levels, is again a matter for urgent attention. The Essequibians eventually folded for just 33 in 22.3 overs.

When play started under bright sunshine and a sprinkle of die-hard cricket fans, Ramnauth, the Port Mourant Cricket Club member batted throughout the innings. His confident innings inclusive 10 boundaries provided the foundation.

The Port Mourant Secondary School, Third Form student, first shared 98 runs for the first-wicket with Avishkar Persaud (28), before he added 147 for the second-wicket with Tameshwar Mahadeo, the 14-year-old Albion player, who made a composed 54.
Christopher Deroop made eight, while Kevin Samuels was unbeaten on four. Gvion Arokium (2-33) and Gladewin (1-44), were the successful bowlers for Essequibo.

At the half way stage, Essequibo needed a big effort from their batsmen if they have any chance of overhauling the winning target, but that never materialised.
They never really had a shot at chasing down the target, after they kept losing wickets right from the start.

The miserable performances have once more questioned the lack of a proper cricket structure in the Cinderella County, and more so the administrators, as well as the coaching staff.
Meanwhile, Demerara registered their second consecutive victory, beating the President’s X1 by 168 runs at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

Scores in the match: Demerara 270-7; Jadan Campbell 81, Man-of-the-Match; Zachary Jodah 53 not out; Movindra Dindyal 41 and 21 from Alvin Mohabir.
Bowling for President X1, Sachin Balgobin, Panav Ramnarine, Nityanand Mathura, Sanjay Algoo, Nicholas Sheoprashad and Anthony Khan collected one wicket each.

In reply, President’s X1 were bowled out for 102 in 42.3 overs. France top scored with 34, while Anthony Khan and Sanjay Algoo chipped in with 10 and 13 runs respectively.
Bowling for Demerara, Jodah picked up 3 for 23 while Dhanesh Persaud assisted with 2-9.
The third and final round will be played tomorrow with Demerara facing Essequibo at Everest while President’s X1 take on Berbice at the Lusignan ground.
The top two teams will meet in the final on Saturday at the GCC ground, Bourda.