NADIR XI defeated Christiani XI by 27 runs on Saturday in the Devon Ramnauth Development Youth League All-Star 40-over clash at the Reliance ground, in Essequibo. Azizi Christiani and Abdool Nadir, who led the Queenstown U-19 and Reliance Hustlers in the six-team four-round league, captained the sides. Unlike the dominance of Queenstown in the league, which saw them playing unbeaten, Saturday’s All-Star clash resulted in Christiani’s first defeat. Nadir XI batted first and posted 203-9 off their allotted 40 overs. The skipper led the attack with 63, while Govinda Tulsie scored 31 not out and Kishan Lall made 28. Lance Roberts finished with 3-12 from five overs, while Christiani and Ramraj Bhopaul supported with two wickets each. In reply, Christiani XI fell short at 176 all out. Christiani played a captain’s knock of 58, while Carl Gilgeous added 37 and Roberts 22.

Bowling for the winning side, Shaziff Mohammed finished with 2-15 from five overs and Kishan Lall 2-27 from five overs.
According to information from league organizer, Devon Ramnauth, the encounter is another component of development spurring from the league, which will next see an Essequibo Select team being named to play another exhibition clash against hosts, Pomeroon, next weekend (once the weather permits). After the clash, the former national youth player, Ramnauth, plans on “doing the bridging initiative with the rest of the county of Essequibo,” in an effort to get youngsters more playing time.
Ramnauth, who had stated that the 2020 T20 league (played in the first quarter of 2021) was a huge success, has also announced that the 2021 competition will be played in August. He said that he is hoping to increase the overs, while decreasing the number of non Essequibians in the teams.