Scoreboard:
Dem 1st inns 282, Berbice 1st inns 330

Demerara 2nd Inns (o/n 61-3)

S. Singh LBW b K Sinclair 66

L Johnson c Anderson b J. Sinclair 34

R Looknauth c Shepherd b K Sinclair 0

C Barnwell LBW b K Sinclair 17

R Ali Mohammed b K Sinclair 0

A Nedd c&b K Sinclair 0

S Sankar c Foo b Permaul 5

Q Torrington not out 0

Extras: 23 (b-8, lb-8, nb-7)

Total 157 all out 64.4 overs

FoW: 14, 33, 40, 124, 136,147, 147,152, 159,159

Bowling:
Shepherd 6-4-7-0, Smith 8-1-12-1,

Joseph 5.3-2-13-1, Permaul 14.4-5-28-1

K Sinclair 19-7-43-6, J Sinclair 10-1-33-1

Berbice 2nd inns (set 110 to win)

J Karim c Persaud b Barnwell 0

A Sukwah LBW b Barnwell 6

K Anderson b Torrington 1

J Foo c Torrington b Barnwell 31

A Bramble not out 51

K Sinclair not out 13

Extras: 8 (b-4, lb-1, nb-3)

Total 110-3 in 14.2 overs

FoW: 2, 3, 9, 61

Bowling:
Barnwell 7.2-1-28-3, Torrington 3-1-21-1,

Nedd 1-0-17-0, Looknauth 2-0-28-0

…Singh’s 66 & Barnwell’s match figures of 7-82 in vain

By Sean Devers
BERBICE began their campaign in the 2023 GCB’s four-day Inter-county tournament auspiciously; well led by a Man-of-the-Match bowling performance from National off-spinner Kevin Sinclair, they beat defending Champions Demerara by six wickets with over a session to spare yesterday at the Providence Stadium.

Scores: Demerara 282 & 157, B’ce 330 & 110-4.

Overnight and early morning rain delayed the start of play by 12 minutes and Demerara resumed on their overnight 61-3 in hazy sunshine.

The home, despite a hard fought 84-run fourth wicket partnership between opener Sachin Singh, who made 66 from 169 balls, 224 minutes with seven fours and a six and his captain Leon Johnson, who exhibited more fluency yesterday during his 34 from 102 balls and 109 minutes and reached the boundary five times.

Singh, overnight on 37 and fellow left-hander Johnson on one, looked better the more they occupied the crease after a circumspect start against Kevin Sinclair, who followed up his 2-32 in the first innings with 6-43 yesterday as he bowled a lot slower than he usually does.

But Skipper Veerasammy Permaul eased the pressure on the batters when he replaced Shamar Joseph with off-spinner Junior Sinclair who was plagued by a ‘no-ball’ problem, overstepping seven times yesterday.

Both batters grew in confidence before Permaul introduced himself into the attack.

The pair, who joined forces on Monday afternoon with their team on 40-3, played with more intent and the 100 was posted in 43 over on the fast Providence sward.

But with the score 124, Johnson played a loose shot and was taken by Kevlon Anderson at slip as Junior Sinclair broke the promising stand.

Singh used his feet to Kevin Sinclair and deposited him over long-on for six to post his 66 from 129 balls, 175 minutes with seven fours and six but Kevin Sinclair had the last laugh when Singh was trapped LBW at 136-5.

Sinclair, enjoying a surface with a bit of bounce and turn, quickly got rid of Chris Barnwell, who hit a six and four in 17 at 147-6, before bowling Renaldo Ali Mohammed for a duck without addition to the score.

Sinclair, the Rosehall Town Youth & Sports Club all-rounder, induced Richie Looknauth, who scored an unbeaten 67 in the first innings, to go big at a flighted delivery to be caught at mid-off for a duck at 152-8 before he had Ashmead Nedd (5) caught and bowled, a run later.

Steven Sankar hit Permaul to Jonathan Foo at mid-on to end the innings at the Lunch Interval.

After Lunch, Barnwell dismissed Javid Karin (0), first innings centurion Kevlon Anderson (1) and Adrian Sukwah (6) to leave Berbice on 9-3.

However, Foo smashed four fours and two sixes in a T20-like innings which lasted just 15 balls, and along with Anthony Bramble, featured in a 52-run stand but just after the 50 was posted in the seventh over, Barnwell removed Foo at 61-4.

Bramble was severe on Nedd, who bowled one over which cost 17 runs, while Kevin Sinclair eased Looknauth over cover and posed for the camera.

Bramble dumped Looknauth for six to reach his fifty from 26 balls with nine fours and six to finish undefeated on 51 as the game was done and dusted in 14.2 overs.

The tournament continues today at 09:30hrs when Essequibo clash with the GCB Select X1 at the Providence Stadium.