Ramdass turns back time with a majestic 131 in E’bo.
By Sean Devers
IN brilliant sunshine at the Reliance Ground on the Essequibo Coast, former West Indies Test opener, Rayan Ramdass, rolled back the clock with a majestic century to spur Demerara Capitals to a 125-run win over Essequibo on Sunday, in the first round of the Hand-in-Hand fire & Life Insurance Big Man over-40 Inter-County 30-over tournament.
The stylish Ramdass, who turned 40 last July, stroked the ball with consummate timing as he reached the boundary 12 times and cleared it on 10 occasions during a 73-ball 131 before he retired and subsequently named Man-of-the-Match.
Shazam Ramjohn clobbered an unbeaten 71 from just 39 balls on the small ground — hitting seven fours and four sixes while he shared in a half-century unbroken partnership with former First-Class batter, Hemraj Garbarran, who finished on 27 not out.
This was after the in-form Troy Benn had stroked a well-calculated 59 at the top of the order in sunny conditions.
Essequibo Jaguars were then dismissed in 21.1 overs for 188 despite a well-played 68 from Vishun Lall.
Only former Guyana left-arm spinner, Besham Seepersaud, who made 28, offered fight as GDF and West Indies over-40 off-spinner Randy Lindore bagged 5-36 to claim the first five-wicket haul in the tournament. Former National pacer, Ucil Armstrong, supported with 2-28.
At Blairmont in West Bank Berbice, the encounter between Berbice Gladiators and the President X1 Warriors commenced two hours late and was reduced to a 25-over affair due to excessive preparation moisture on the pitch.
The hosts were asked to bat and led by a classy 68 with five fours and two sixes from 47 balls by Man-of-the-Match Devon Clements, reached 212-7 off their allotted 25 overs in slightly overcast conditions.
Ravindra Bridgelall (28), Karamdatt Bissiondayal (27), former Standford T20 star, Imran Khan who smashed 27 from 13 balls with five fours and Lakeram Latchman 27 not out, all got starts but failed to go on.
Sham Persaud captured 2-47 for the President’s X1 which reached 92-8 from 15.3 overs with two of their batters unavailable due to injury.
Set 213 to win, President’s X1 had a solid start as Clement Archer (14) and Surendra Hiralall (10) began in a positive fashion.
However, with the score on 34 without loss, off-spinner Shabeer Baksh removed Archer and David Dick for a first duck to be on a hat-trick.
The hat-trick was averted by Rawle Browne, the brother of West Indies ODI pacer, Barrington Browne, before left-arm spinner, Mark Sampson, dislodged Hiralall as three wickets fell at 34 to the delight of the crowd which was entertained by pulsating music.
Prakash Ramdat (9) and Browne (14) brought up the 50 before leg-spinner Safraz Omar produced a google to bowl Ramdat who tried to cut to leave the visitors on 57-4.
Omar tempted Browne to throw his wicket away with an injudicious shot to long-on before Persuad (2) was run out as two wickets fell at 65 and although Ronald Jaisingh made 15, the game was already lost.
Baksh (2-17) and Omar (2-9) for Berbice which, despite their win, had to settle for second on the points table as Demerara earned 1 bonus point for scoring 300 in Essequibo.
The game in Berbice was streamed live on YouTube while Berbice was without their Captain Seenarine Chattergoon due to first division quarter-finals duty for Albion.
This Saturday Demerara will face President’s X1 at Enmore while next Sunday Berbice will battle Essequibo at Blairmont.
The tournament concludes with Berbice and Demerara clashing at Blairmount on December 3.
