Essequibo get past Demerara by 4-wkts in opening round

ESSEQUIBO U-19 Girls team made an auspicious start to their 2024 female inter-county T20 campaign when they inflicted a thrilling four-wicket win with 17 balls to spare over defending champions Demerara at Malteenoes ground yesterday.

In hot conditions on a flat track Demerara opted to bat and were provided with a solid foundation from their openers; Naiomi Barkoye and Tilleya Madramootoo who shared in 116-run partnership.

The tall right-handed Skipper Barkoye dominated the stand with several aggressive off-drives while more technical correct and stylish Madamootoo played some elegant shots on the fast Malteenoes sward as their partnership continued without much bother.

The pair, playing on their home turf and watched by a large crowd which included a sizable contingent of Essequibo supporters, played with plenty of authority and aided by wayward bowling, looked well set to both register fifties.
The only flaw with the national batters was their lack of awareness in converting ones into twos and taking advantage of erratic returns which should have produced over-throws.

In the 16th over with score on 116 Tremaine Marks finally removed Barkoye for 43 from 56 balls with three boundaries before Naiomi’s sister Cianna Barkoye (5) was lbw to a ball that kept low from Briana Samaroo to leave Demerara on 125-2.
West Indies ‘A’ Women’s player Niya Latchman (3) fell to Lauren Williams at 133-3 to stem the runs flow.

A tired looking Madramootoo was bowled by Samaroo for 46 off the penultimate ball of the innings after facing 61 balls and reaching the boundary twice as she tried to reach her half-century.
Samaroo had 2-17 from 3 overs for Essequibo who began their reply in positive fashion.

Aliyah Da Silva and Marks attacked the bowling and the pair raced to 39 in five overs before Aneesa Chetram had Marks DaSilva stumped for 13 at 59-2.
DaSilva soon fell for 13 and the Demerara fans started premature celebrations.

Skipper and National player Lauren Williams and the ‘big hitting’ Shonette Belgrave silenced the home fans with Belgrave dominating a third wicket stand of 60.
Belgrave, watched by a large of screaming Essequibo fans which included her grandmother, went after ‘leggie’ Latchman and clobbered her for a six and two fours in an expensive over which swung the pendulum in Essequibo’s favour.

She was eventually bowled by Latchman but her cameo 27 from 17 balls with two fours and a six had given the lasses from the Cinderella county the ascendancy.
Even the demise of the level headed Williams; bowled Naiomi Barkoye for a well-played 32 from 24 balls with two fours could bring back Demerara, who fielded poorly and dropped eight catches, into the game.

With three to win Qzel Sampson flicked Madramootoo for four to finish not out on eight.
Latchman, whose first two over cost just four runs, finished with 2-27 while Barkoye had 2-25 in a losing effort.
Today at the same venue from 13:30 hours Berbice clash with Demerara.