Chandrika’s highlights poor opening day as G/T and E/Coast win

Former West Indies Test opener Rajendra Chandraka’s 54 highlighted a substandard opening of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Senior T/20 Inter Association /Sawh Voltcom Construction Inc./Precision Service Center Inc tournament at GCC, Bourda as East Coast and Georgetown registered first round wins yesterday.

After a minute of silence was observed for the five GDF soldiers who died in a Helicopter crash and former Test players Joe Solomon and Clyde Butts, who passed yesterday, the tournament began after a 30-minute delay due overnight and early morning showers.

East Bank opted to field in a game which was reduced to 18 overs and the 34-year-old Chandraka led the way with 54 for East Coast, who reached 118-6 from their allotted 18 overs, on a lush green outfield and a slow track.

Chandraka’s half century lasted 48 balls and was decorated with four boundaries but only Vishwanath Ramlakhan (21) and Krishna Deosarran (16) of the other batters reached double figures.
Leon Swammy (2-19) and Sagar Hatiamani (2-15) were the main wicket takers for East Bank who were bowled out for 92 in 14.4 overs.

Swammy top-scored with 47 from 23 balls with three fours and four sixes but once he threw his wicket away with an impetuous pull to deep mid-wicket off Andrew Samaroo at 83-5, East Bank, without inter county left-hander Shamar Yearwood, who arrived after the toss, lost their last six wickets for nine runs in pathetic batting display with lacked shot-selection and common sense.
Only Hatiamani (13) off the other batters, reached double figures as spinner Samaroo bagged 4-14. He was supported by Neeran Bani (3-26) and Sachin Singh (2-23) to give East Coast a 26-run victory.

In the afternoon game, which was watched by good size gathering and played in bright sunshine, Georgetown beat West Demerara by seven wickets in another low scoring encounter.
West Demerara were restricted to 90-9 from 20 overs with National 50 overs player Richie Looknauth, who hit a six in his 31-ball 25 and Narendra Persaud whose 22 included a six and four, reached double for West Demerara.

Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed had 3-20 and got support from Carlos LaRose (2-11) and Jonathon Van Lange (2-12)
Georgetown began their chase of the small target inauspiciously when former First-Class opener Shemroy Barrington (3) fell to Navindra Persaud at 7-1 while Adrian Hinds (6) was removed by Aryan Persaud at 22-2 in the fourth over.

Raymon Perez continued to show his consistency in local cricket with several fluent drives and was quick to pounce on the bad deliveries and along Chris Barnwell, who hit two boundaries in a cameo 18, took the score to 51 before Looknauth got rid of the experienced Barnwell.

However, that would be last success for the lads from the West side, as Perez continued to impress with some delightful shots and along with 17-year-old Van Lange who has represented Guyana in both Table Tennis and Cricket, put together 43 in an unfinished fourth wicket stand.

The multitalented Van Lange clobbered Mahendra Danpaul for a six and a one-bounce four to finish the game in emphatic fashion as he ended unbeaten on 15 while Perez’s carefully constructed 42 came from 52 balls with two fours.

The second round is set for this week end with Georgetown facing Upper Demerara from 09:00hrs and East Coast opposing West Demerara at Lusignan on Saturday while on Sunday Georgetown play East Bank and Upper Demerara come against West Demerara as the action shifts to Farm on the East Bank.