A SOLID bowling performance, led by left-arm spinner Bryan Narine, and assertive batting propelled Pomeroon XI to a run-rate victory when the home team challenged the visiting Essequibo Coast XI on Wednesday at the Jacklow Cricket Ground, Upper Pomeroon River.
The 40-over match was organised through the Devon Ramnauth Region Two Youth Development Cricket League by Ernesto Demattos of Jacklow and B. Roberts.
Essequibo XI won the toss and batted first but only opener Orrin Gibson was able to play freely. He led the attack with 46, while fellow opener Sheldon Charles added 21.
It was the combination of Narine, Ryan Ramdeen, Babetto Holder and Harold Demattos that undermined the batting, which resulted in the visiting side succumbing for 125 in 29.2 overs.
Narine led the attack with 4-28 from his eight overs, while Ramdeen finished with 2-26 from six overs, Holder and Demattos also picked up two wickets each.
The visiting skipper, Azizi Christiani was the only other batsman in double figures. He made 10.
In reply, Pomeroon XI lost a few early wickets, but solid starts from Rovaldo Edwards (22) and Floyd Thornhill (25) pushed them to 81-3 in 16 overs, before rain brought a premature end to the match. With a run rate of 5.06, the home team had done enough to claim the win.
Ramraj Bhopaul (1-12 from 4 overs), Sheldon Charles (1-20 4 overs) and Shaziff Mohammed (1-19 from 3 overs) were the wicket-takers for Essequibo Coast XI.
For his outstanding performance with the ball, Narine was awarded the Man-of-the-Match award.