Scoreboard
DEMERARA 1st innings

S Singh c K Sinclair b Shepherd 9

M Nandu c Karim b Permaul 15

T Imlach LBW b Permaul 62

A Persaud c Karim b Smith 6

L Johnson c J Sinclair b K Sinclair 21

C Barnwell c Foo b J Sinclair 28

R Ali-Mohammed c Anderson b K Sinclair 10

R Looknauth no 19

A Nedd c K Sinclair b Permaul 19

S Sankar LBW b Permaul 13

Q Torrington no 1

Extras 26 (b-8, lb-6, w-2, w-2, nb-10)

Total for 9 wkts 228

FoW: 25, 50, 61, 92,

Bowling.

Shepherd 13-6-29-1, Smith 11-3-43-1,

Joseph 11-2-32-0, Permaul 27.2- 11-46-4,

K Sinclair 15-4-31-2, J Sinclair 9-1-35-1

Imlach, Permaul shine on rain- affected opening day

By Sean Devers at Providence
THE first Senior four-day Inter-County tournament played in nine years, commenced 105 minutes late due to damp spots on the bowler’s run-up at the Providence Stadium yesterday and by stumps on a truncated opening day, Demerara were 228- 9 after being invited to bat by Berbice on an amazingly fast outfield despite the recent rain.

The 26-year-old Tevin Imlach stroked 10 boundaries in a well compiled 62 from 186 balls and 243 minutes and shared in a 57-run fifth wicket stand with Christopher Barnwell whose 28 lasted 73 balls and included four fours.

But none of the batters reached 25 in a disappointing batting display against a bowling attack comprising three bowlers who have played for the West Indies and two for Guyana.

West Indies Test left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul has 4-46 while West Indies ODI off-spinner Kevin Sinclair has 2-31 for Berbice who will hope to wrap up the innings early today and begin their reply.

In bright sunshine and sweltering heat, the small gathering of die-hard spectators included the Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport Charles Ramson, who bowled the first ball, watched as Sachin Singh on-drove Nial Smith past wide mid-on before stroking him gloriously through extra cover for boundaries.

The left-handed Singh, who faced 23 balls for his nine, got a short ball that left him from Romario Shepherd and edged it to third slip at 25-1 as Berbice made the break-through 40 minutes into the day’s play.

Matthew Nandu, who scored a century against Barbados on debut, was very watchful and left balls that he did not need to play at, as he again demonstrated excellent temperament.

When the left-handed Nandu got a wide half volley from Shamar Joseph, he caressed it majestically to the cover boundary as he and Imlach took their team to Lunch.

At the interval, Demerara were 39-1 from 13 overs with Nandu (13) and Imlach (7) at the crease.

After the break Nandu swept Permaul to backward square at 50-2 just after the 50 was posted in 21 overs.

Nandu’s 15 took 98 minutes, lasted 61 balls and included just two fours and his demise brought Akshaya Persaud to the wicket.

The elegant Persaud got going with an immaculate off-drive for four before he cut Smith, who bowled with some pace on a flat track, to point where Javed Karim held his second catch to send the batter packing for six at 61-3.

While Imlach looked very solid, skipper Johnson looked badly out of form although a lovely cover driven boundary off Smith and a sweep off Permaul reminded many why he had played Test cricket.

The compact Imlach worked the ball into gaps under a blue sky while Johnson struggled against Kevin Sinclair who produced a nagging length and line and had a very confident LWB shout turned down.

The most successful Guyana captain succumbed to the pressure and tried to hit Sinclair over the top but succeeded in finding the safe hands of Junior Sinclair at mid-on as the 31-run stand was broken at 92-4. Johnson’s 21 lasted 58 balls and included three boundaries.

Christopher Barnwell joined the well set Imlach who neatly tucked Smith off his legs for his fourth boundary.

The pair batted sensibly and by tea Demerara were 121-4 from 52 overs with Imlach on 39 and Barnwell on 16.

After Tea, Junior Sinclair replaced his unrelated namesake, Kevin, from the southern end and bowled too short in addition to bowling four ‘no-balls’ but he removed the well set Barnwell to break a 57-run fifth wicket stand.

Imlach’s confidence grew as his innings progressed; he leaned back and slapped Permaul for four to move into the forties before capitalising on some poor bowling from Junior Sinclair stroking him for back-to-back boundaries to reach his fifty from 134 balls, 197 minutes with eight fours.

Barnwell, who faced 72 balls in his 28, lofted Junior Sinclair over mid-off for four before pushing forward in the same over and was taken at slip off one that did not turn and Junior Sinclair celebrated with a double back flick which is usually done by the other Sinclair.

The 150 was posted before two wickets tumbled at 169 when Kevin Sinclair removed Renaldo Ali Mohammed (10) and Permaul trapped Imlach to leave the score on 169-7.

Richie Looknauth (19 not out) and Ashmead Nedd (19) took the score to 209 before Permaul removed and Steven Sankar (13) to leave Quinton Torrington (1) and Looknauth as the unbeaten batters.
Play is scheduled to start at 09:30hrs today