By Rajiv Bisnauth

EAST Coast Demerara (ECD) failed to use the comfort of their home territory, as they suffered a nine-wicket defeat at the hands of their opponents, Georgetown, yesterday at Enmore. The game was the second-round encounter in the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Inter-Association Under-19 limited overs cricket tournament.
In a shortened game, reduced to 36 overs-a-side, due to early morning rain, the home team won the toss and took first strike, a decision which did not go in their favour.
The visiting team, led by off-spinner Alvin Mohabir (5-7), off three overs, helped to restrict the home team to just 65 all out in 26 overs. However, apart from Mohabir, the other bowlers played their part, and were also economical, resulting in Bryon Bowen (2-16) and Dwain Dick (1-8) being the other successful bowlers. Among the scorers for East Coast Demerara were Romel Datterdeen with a top score of 15 and opener Lakeram Ramkissoon who contributed ten on a depressing scorecard, where four batsmen failed to score. The eventual winners then lost opener Brandon Jaikaran (3) lbw to Chetram Balgobin, but fellow opener Jaden Campbell and Shamar Yearwood then powered the run chase down with ridiculous ease, reaching 67-1 in 17.1 overs. Campbell, who represented Guyana at the Youth level, ended unbeaten on 35 (5×4), while Yearwood struck four boundaries in his unbeaten 26. The tournament concludes tomorrow with the final matches.