By Sean Devers
URGED on by a large and raucous gathering of Essequibo supporters under an almost cloudless sky in steaming heat, a well-oiled Essequibo unit remained unbeaten in the GCB U-13 Inter-County 40-over cricket tournament when they defeated Demerara by 15 runs to lift the inaugural trophy yesterday at the historic GCC ground, Bourda.

Led by a Man-of-the Match performance from 13-year-old Bumesh Lall, Essequibo were all out for 119 in 37.5 overs before dismissing Demerara for 103 in 40 overs in their own backyard.
Lall topscored with an attractive 41 from 51 balls with five fours and one six but only Usain Fredericks (11) and Mark Daniels (10) reached double figures, while extras contributed 26.

Left-arm spinner Skipper Brandon Henry, who belatedly introduced himself into the attack, followed up his 3-19 on Friday with 4-12, while leg-spinner Makai Dowlin had 3-22.

Reyaz Latif (22) and Dowlin, who retired hurt for 10 were the only batters to reach double figures while Ruel Dindyal, who surprisingly batted at number 11, made nine with a cover-driven boundary. Lall returned with the ball to finish with 3-19

When the home team began their chase the US-based Guyanese Khush Seegobin (2), who edged Makayan Holmes to the wicker-Keeper at 9-1 and never recovered despite Latif’s brief resistance.

Earlier, the lads from Guyana’s largest county elected to bat on a good track and fairly fast outfield and the right-handed Lall from the island of Wakenaam which produced former West Indies batter Ramnaresh Sarwan, launched into pacer Patrice Fraser and hit him over long-off for six before stroking gloriously off the back for four past cover in an over which cost 12 runs.

Left-arm pacer Thierry Davis bowled with good pace for his age and dismantled the stumps of Justin Dowlin (7) at 31-1,
Eleven-year-old leg-spinner Dowlin, watched by father, former West Indies batter Travis Dowlin, bowled with teasing flight and good control.

Lall played an array of lovely shots and deposited Kyle Gibson over mid-on for four before punching Dowlin through the fielder at cover for a fortuitous boundary.
When well set for the first 50 of the tournament, Lall ‘tugged’ a flighted delivery from Dowling to short mid-wicket at 67-2.

Reyaz Latif bowled David Person (8) without addition to the score before Dowlin struck to leave the score on 67-4 as three wickets fell for no runs.
Daniels and Fredericks offered token resistance before Henry wrapped up the innings.

ECB president Deleep Singh was at the presentation ceremony while president of the DCB and GCB Bissoondyal Singh was not present .