SHAMAR Yearwood stroked an unbeaten half-century which, in the end, was pivotal as his team handed the Select Under-15 team a four-wicket defeat to get their campaign underway in this year’s Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U-17 Inter-county competition.

Batting first at the Everest ground, the Select U-15 team, comprising the best performers in the recently concluded U-15 Inter-county tourney, had their baptism by fire, and will be punching in a much higher division over the next few rounds.

The lads were knocked over for a measly 112 in 45.2 overs with Sanjay Algoo (10), Matthew Pottaya (13) and Nityanand Mathura (14) as the only batters to reach double digits.

It was a collective bowling outing by the Demerara U-17 boys who were led by 3 wickets apiece from spinner Zachary Jodah and Chandrapaul Ramraj while Romel Datterdeen (2-22) along with Rudranauth Kissoon (2-18), added the cherry on the cake.

Demerara had a few hiccups from the start of the chase, losing their top 5 batsmen with the total well under 40, thanks to Josh Alves (2-21) and Pottaya (2-30); who both continued their exceptional form with the ball from the U-15s.

Despite the collapse, Yearwood braved the elements and launched a brutal counter-attack which was decorated with four fours and four sixes, ending on 54 not out off 71 balls.

The wicketkeeper’s unbeaten knock was enough to get Demerara over the line and helped them draw first blood. The next round is set for tomorrow. (Clifton Ross)