Fifties from Shultz and Madramootoo help Demerara beat Essequibo

By Sean Devers
IN a game reduced to 45 overs, fifties from Tilleya Madramootoo and Skipper Kaysia Shultz spearheaded Demerara to 135-run victory over Essequibo as the GCB Senior Women’ 50-over Inter-County tournament bowled off yesterday at the Everest ground.

Asked to bat when game eventually commenced at 11:00hrs due to early morning showers, Demerara, on the back of a 130-run second wicket partnership between Madramootoo, who hit seven boundaries in his 65 from 95 balls and Shultz, who reached the ropes five time in her 75-ball 52.

Extras contributed a whopping 74, including 53 wides while Queens College Student Naomi Barkoye hit four fours in 27 on her 18th birthday as Demerara reached 228-5.

National senior player Kumarie Persaud finished with 4-24 from nine overs for Essequibo who were bowled out for 93 in 22.4 overs.

National U-19 player Analesia D’Aguiar, who was run out for 16, Rhona Jones (14) and Lauraine Williams (10) were the only batters to reach double figures as 40 Extras, including 29 wides, contributed the most runs to Essequibo’s total.

Shultz (3-5), Nyia Latchman (2-14), Latisha Jordon (2-13) and player of the match Madramootoo (1-10) were the architects of destruction for Demerara
Earlier, Anita Hendricks and Barkoye put together 33 in a measured start before Persuad broke the stand when Hendricks (3) played across the line and was adjudged lbw.

Barkoye, strong on the on-side, pulled high full tosses twice off National U-19 Seamer Analesia D’Aguiar, for boundaries and along with Madramootoo, who started cautiously, added 36 for the third wicket before Barkoye was lbw to Qzel Sampson, the sister of Essequibo senior team’s Quintin Sampson, at 69-2 in the 21st over.

Madramootoo, who favoured the cuts and pulls, was joined by her Captain and the pair batted positively before Madramootoo reached her maiden 50 at this level.

Just when Demerara were looking at a total close to 300, the experienced Persaud struck three times in the space of seven runs to put the brakes on the scoring.

With the score in 199, Persaud, taking advantage of a very strong breeze blowing across the ground from Atlantic Ocean, less than 50 yards from the Northern Sight Screen, trapped Madramootoo lbw.

Persaud got rid of Lynda Sylvan and Heema Singh in quick succession as Demerara slipped to 206-5.

Shultz, who reached her fifty in the last over and Latisha Jordon (5) were the not out batters when their allotted overs expired.

Essequibo face Berbice at Bourda tomorrow in the next match while Berbice play Demerara in the final round at Bourda.