-wins also for GYO and GNIC

DAMIAN Waldron and Leon Andrews did damage with bat and ball to lead the Guyana Defence Force to a comprehensive victory against Third Class in the New Building Society (NBS), Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Second Division 40-over competition on Sunday at the Police Sports Club ground.

Although both cricketers played their part, Waldron excelled as he spun his way to five wickets after he had blasted 75 runs.  Andrews, who is also an off-spinner, finished with four wickets after he had made 44 runs.

Elsewhere, the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO), led by an all-round effort from Trevon France, was able to overpower Diplomats, while GNIC defeated newcomers, Bel Air Rubis II.

In their match against Third Class, the army won the toss, batted first and reached 197, before they were bowled out in the 33rd over.  

Waldron and Andrews added 84 runs for the third wicket.  Both batsmen ran well as they littered their innings with numerous singles and doubles.

Andrews was particularly aggressive against Ricardo Ghisiawan in his first over, hitting him for three consecutive sixes.  The spinner later returned and captured four middle and lower order wickets to lead his team’s bowling attack (4-37 in 4.3 overs). Support came from Teekaram George who took 2-65.

In reply, Third Class could not get on top of the GDF bowling and succumbed for 69 in 19 overs.

Waldron, who got a wicket off his first ball, finished with 5-13, while Andrews, who bowled four maidens, finished with 4-25.

Also producing an all-round performance was France, who scored 70 (4x4s, 5x6s) unbeaten runs against Diplomats at the Everest Cricket Club ground after GYO were asked to take first strike.   The eventual winners posted 233-9 from their allotted overs.

Along with France, Darshan Persaud (36), Trenton Liverpool (25) and Joshua Ramsammy (23) also contributed to the score.

Bowling for Diplomats A, Foster finished with 3-40, while R. Gill and skipper Rickford Mohamed grabbed two wickets each.

Diplomats, in reply, were routed for 114 in 26.2 overs, with France spinning his way to 3-13 and Liverpool 3-11.

Martima King, who hit a six and two fours, finished with a top score of 25.

Meanwhile, at the DCC Ground, GNIC won the toss and batted. They reached 224-8 in their allotted overs with Marc Nicholson hitting 70 and Sean DeSouza 34.

Bowling for Bel Air II, S. Budhu, A. Duke and A. Gainda picked up two wickets each.

Bel Air, in reply, lost by 33 runs after they were bowled out for 191.

Archer Duke led the attack with 76 (9x4s, 7x6s), while Budhu added 31.  GNIC also shared the wickets as J. Benjamin, R. Bourne and J. Champagne finished with two scalps each.