Jones 5-for keeps Essequibo unbeaten streak alive

By Clifton Ross

AN MVP 5-wicket haul from pacer Joshua Jones saw Essequibo extend their unbeaten streak, trouncing West Demerara by 75 runs in yesterday’s 4th round encounter at Bourda.
Chasing a 200-plus score, West Demerara folded for a paltry 138 in 46.5 overs despite some fight from spinner Richie Looknauth who scored 41 and former Windies U-19 keeper Tevin Imlach with 30.

Travis Persaud also resisted with 25 but Jones proved to be a handful, while pacer Ronsford Beaton (2-34) and all-rounder Ricardo Adams (2-15) were the other wicket-takers.
Essequibo racked up as solid first-innings score of 213 all out in 50 overs, after capitalising on their familiarity with the Bourda ground.

Identical knocks of 51 from opener Kevon Boodie and the in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Kemol Savory helped lay the foundation while a few other batsmen chipped in with scores.
West Demerara spinners Richie Looknauth (3-25) and Keshram Seyhodan (3-33) almost kept the champs quiet with their six wickets. A late order assault, though, from the likes of Quintin Sampson (26) and Neiland Cadogan (21) helped stretch the total.

The chase began in timid fashion with the openers looking jumpy, due to the pace of Beaton, who removed national opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul (4) and Andre Seepersaud (2) within a short space of time.

Opener Ronaldo Renee (5) was pinned lbw to Ricardo Adams as the innings began to go left. Looknauth looked like he needed more from his partners but got little support as the Essequibo bowlers stayed on top of the opposition.

Jones’ burst and the frequent loss of wickets kept the Berbice franchise at bay for most of the chase and when Looknauth departed, it became difficult for the chasing side.
The MVP Jones also recorded a hat-trick when he removed Malcolm Hubbard, Marvin Dhanpaul and Seyhodan, further flinging the innings into disarray as their team crumbled inside 50 overs.

Earlier, batting first Boodie notched up another half-century, his second fifty of the match, with some mature stroke-play as he hit a solitary four and six from 77 deliveries before being bowled by Malcolm Hubbard.
Seyhodan landed a double blow when he removed Marvin Williams (1) and David Williams (0), without troubling the scorers. Savory continued to look fluent this season with his stylish approach and wide array of strokes.

The left-hander was crucial in the repair phases of the team following Boodie’s departure. Not as brisk as the opener’s fifty, Savory grafted an innings of grit and resilience to keep the champs firm during the middle passage.

His four fours were well-placed as his focus seemed to be running between the wickets. When he departed, the captain came out and contributed 21, paving the way for Sampson and Cadogan.

The two pinch-hitters added 33 runs as they picked apart the Berbice bowling, with Sampson again showing his brutal strength by hitting two sixes, one of which sailed out the ground; similar to what he did against Georgetown in the opener.

After a flurry of shots and some brisk running, the pair fell but their side had already reached a winning total.
Round four bowls off tomorrow across venues in the country.