By Sean Devers

IN mostly overcast conditions on Sunday last at the Enterprise Community Centre, Demerara beat the President’s X1 by three runs in the second round of the Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company’s Big Man Cricket (BMC) Over-40 Inter-County 30 overs cricket tournament to remain the only unbeaten team in the four-team competition.
Invited to bat on a slow outfield due to heavy overnight and ea

Troy Benn, on the back of a fifty in the first round in Essequibo, and Ramesh Thakur added 27 for the first wicket, with Benn making all of the runs in the partnership.
But after Thakur (12) was bowled by Ronald Jaisingh, the batters struggled to score in bowler-friendly conditions and soon slumped to 48-5.
Parmand Dindyal was bowled for duck by Jaisingh without addition to the score, while West Indies Over-40 player Hemraj Garbarran (0) was bowled by Richard Latif at 32-3, and Andrew Lyght, son of former West Indies ‘B’ team opener the late Andrew Lyght, was LBW to Latif at 41-4.
And when Benn was removed by Latif at 48-5, the pre-tournaments were in danger of suffering their first loss.
Latif had 3-5, and Jaisingh took 2-13 for the President’s X1 who needed 98 for their first win in their second game.

Latif hit a six and a four before he edged Ramjohn to the keeper for 11 before Rawle Browne, the youngest sibling of Guyana players Barrington and Robin Browne, fell to Ramjohn for five. And when Rohan Mangal (4) was dismissed at 33-3, the reply was not going well.
Chien Gittens joined Surendra Harilall to give the President’ X1 hope before Benn got rid of him for 27.
Harilall (33) was bowled by Ramjohn at 81 before Jaisingh (5) and Sham Persaud (9) were both unbeaten as they fell three runs short, needing 13 in the final over bowled by Basil Persaud.

On Saturday, Essequibo with a win and loss, faces the winless President’s X1 at Enmore, while next Sunday, Demerara battles Berbice, with a win and loss at Everest. All of the games will have live commentary on YouTube.

Matches: Won: Loss: N/R: Tie: Bonus Points: Total Points: NRR:
Demerara Capitals 2 2 0 0 0 1 7.0 2.844
Berbice Gladiators 2 1 1 0 0 1 4.0 1.910
Essequibo Jaguars 2 1 1 0 0 0.5 3.5 -1.806