… Joel Spooner main destroyer with 5-10

HOSTS Demerara took the honours on day one of their first-round Hand-in-Hand Under-19 Inter-county three-day encounter against Essequibo, yesterday, at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.

Demerara played well, but were helped by a dismal Essequibo batting performance, as one dismissal followed another. They eventually folded for just 75. In response, Demerara reached 162-5 with Alphuis Bookie striking a well-composed 52, and Robin Williams a gritty 42.

Demerara, who surprisingly omitted left-arm spinner Daniel Mootoo from the final eleven, closed the day with a first-innings lead of 87 runs.

Earlier off-spinner Joel Spooner made the headlines after Demerara decided to bowl in murky conditions. Spooner claimed 5-10 off just 4.4 overs. Orlando Jailall top-scored with 27 while Jerimiah Scott made 17. The remaining visiting batsmen failed through a combination of poor strokes and excellent bowling, especially from Spooner, and were bowled out in just 33.4 overs.

They lost opener Kevin Christian, leg-before-wicket to medium pacer Qumar Torrington without scoring. Ameer Singh then went, off the bowling of medium pacer Sachin Singh for one, at 10-2, while Bhumshwar Ramkissoon was trapped plumb in front to Bookie also for one, at 23-3.

However, fellow opener Jailall, who remained firm to the end, was joined by Scott, and together they took the total to 50 before Scott was removed by left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd just before the interval.

The left-handed Jailall was on 23 at the break. The afternoon session was crucial for the visiting side, since a recovery was desperately needed. As it proved, Essequibo’s remaining batsmen flattered to deceive.

Upon resumption, Azim Mohamed was bowled off a no-ball from Torrington, but he failed to make use of the opportunity, and was out caught on the long-on boundary off Spooner, who claimed five of the last six wickets including that of Jailall, whose resistance ended soon after, when he was taken bat/pad.

Adrian Hinds and Williams then added 21 runs before Hinds retired hurt on 12. The attacking Singh struck three boundaries in his 13 before he was dismissed by medium pacer Mervyn Benjamin at 38-1.

Boodie then joined forces with Williams, and the pair put together 61 runs for the second wicket, a stand during which Demerara wiped off the first-innings deficit.
Both batsmen looked compact with Williams hitting four fours and a six before he was dismissed by spinner Amit Persaud.

The right-handed Bookie also played some attractive strokes much to the delight of the small crowd. He struck five fours and a six before he was caught behind off medium pacer Ramkissoon.

Bookie’s dismissal saw the return of Hinds to the middle, but his stay was short as he was bowled behind his back off Persaud for 17, at 138-4. Off-spinner Badesh Parsotam then removed Andrew Samaroo for nine.
Pradesh Balkishun (11 not out) and Zachery Jodah (7 not out) survived until the end.