Philips’ 4-14 helps Essequibo to 8-wkt win over Berbice

By Sean Devers
LED by 4-14 from left-arm spinner Garfield Phillips, Essequibo romped to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over a depleted Berbice side yesterday at Enmore in the second round of the GCB four-day Inter-County cricket tournament.

Essequibo, who beat the Select X1 in the first round, are now in line for only their second title at this level after their 1980 success.

It took Berbice 21 minutes’ yesterday to wrap up the Essequibo innings as the last pair of Wasim Mohammed and Garfield Phillips who joined forces on the opening day at 149-9, resumed yesterday with their team on 156-9. They were bowled out for 175 with left-arm spinner Nigel Deodat taking 6-49.

The pair added 19 runs before Deodat had Benjamin (9) lbw to finish with 6-49 as Mohammed remained unbeaten on 22.

Berbice began their second innings needing 82 runs to avoid an innings defeat but were immediately put under the pump.

The small gathering present included National selectors, Peter Persaud and Royan Fredericks, along with Essequibo players, Kemol Savory and Anthony Adams, who left this morning for T&T as part of the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad.

Alex Algoo (5) was bowled by Cadogan at 6-1 while Javid Karim (2) was bowled by Ricardo Adams before Garfield Benjamin was lbw to Cadogan for a duck, as two wickets fell with the score on eight.

Skipper Seon Hetymer, who scored a classy ton against TT in Barbados in 2008 at the U-19 level, was joined by Shamar Angel and the pair carried the score to 23 before Angel (11) edged Adams to the Keeper.

The elder Hetymer looked technically correct and his front foot drives were a joy to watch.

However, it was one of those shots that unfortunately caused the demise of Jason Sinclair.

Hetymer executed a glorious straight drive off Quinton Sampson and the ball was deflected off the bowler’s right palm onto the wicket with Sinclair backing up too far and being run out for nine at 33-5.

Another well-timed straight drive by the elegant Hetmyer almost caused the stylish Deodat to be also run out at the non-striker’s end, but he kept his bat grounded.

In blazing sun and an outfield that had gotten a bit faster and on a dry track which produced prodigious turn for Man-of-the Match Adams, the pair carried their team to 45-5 by Lunch.
After the interval, with Berbice still needing 37 to avoid the embarrassment of an innings defeat, Hetmyer stroked Sampson back past his ankles for four while Deodat caressed a full toss from Adams to the extra cover boundary.

Hetymer used his feet and deposited Adams over long-on for sixes while Deodat, who favoured the sweep, swept Adams for four to ensure Essequibo had to bat again.
However, with the score on 83 and the lead just two, Hetymer danced into Philips, ‘yorkered’ himself and was bowled.

His 28 lasted 91 minutes and 61 balls and his partnership with Deodat was worth 50 from 60 balls.

Deodat, looking good on 30 from 41 balls, in 44 minutes at the crease, then fell to Phillips at 86-7.

Phillips removed Keon Sinclair (4) and Suresh Dhanai (14) while Junior Sinclair, who injured his leg batting in the first innings, could not bat.

Needing 25 to win Essequibo lost Kevin Boodie and Renaldo Renee before Avinash Persaud (8) and Malcome Hubbard (8) saw Essequibo to a rare win at this level.
Today, defending Champions Demerara face the Select X1 at Bourda from 9:30am.

Scoreboard
B’ce 1st inns 94 all out

E’bo 1st inns O/N 156-9

Kevin Boodie c Hetymer b Deodat 7

Avinash Persaud b K Sinclair 4

Renaldo Renee lbw b Deodat 38

Malcome Hubbard c Deodat b Dhani 16

Ricardo Adams c wkt Jason Sinclair b Deodat 23

Sheldon Charles lbw b Deodat 0

Quinton Sampson not out 2

Wasim Mohammed not out 22

Leon Swammy c Ramesh b Deodat 10

Neiland Cadogan b Deodat 0

Garfield Phillips lbw b Deodat 9

Total 175 all out in 53.2 overs

Extras 11 (b-10, lb-1)

FoW: 11, 11, 55, 92, 94, 103, 134, 149,149, 174

Bowling
K Sinclair 11-3-31-1, Deodat 16-4-49-6,

Ramesh 11-2-50-1, Dhanai 8-0-20-0,

Hetymer 7-0-14-0

B’ce 2nd inns
Alex Algoo b Cadogan 5

Javid Karim b Adams 2

Garfield Benjamin lbw b Cadogan 0

Seon Hetmyer b Phillips 28

Shamal Angel c wkp Renee b Adams 11

Jason Sinclair run out 9

Nigel Deodat c Cadogan b Phillips 30

Suresh Dhanai
Keon Sinclair c Mohamed b Phillips 4

Gourav Ramesh not out 1

Extras 1 (lb-1)

Total 105-9 innings closed

Did not bat Junior Sinclair

FoW: 6, 8, 8, 23, 33,83, 86 103

Bowling
Cadogan 7-5-9-2, Adams 18-3-60-2,

Sampson 5-0-2-0

Phillips 6.2-1-14-4

E’bo 2nd inns
Kevin Boodie c Wkt Ceaser b K Sinclair 0

Avinash Persaud

Renaldo Renee

Malcome Hubbard

Extras 1 (lb-1)

Total 25-2

FoW: 0, 15

Bowling
K Sinclair 4-1-12-1, Dhanai 4.4-1-8-1

Deodat 1-0-4-0