GCB Male U-19 Inter-County 50-Overs…

DEFENDING champions Berbice beat Essequibo by seven wickets at Malteenoes, while Demerara defeated the Select 1X by nine wickets at Lusignan in yesterday’s opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Male U-19 Inter-County 50-overs tournament.

At Malteenoes, in a match reduced to 39 overs due to a damp pitch, Berbice invited Essequibo to bat in hot conditions, and the Cinderella County boys were off to a solid start.
On a pitch with good bounce, Rajindra Ramballi and Shahid Vieira batted carefully as the pair shared a solid and slow 62-run partnership.

However, off-spinner Salim Khan removed both openers in the space of a run to leave the score on 63-2.
Ramballi was looking set for a big score on 21 with four boundaries, as did Vieira, who reached the boundary three times in his 25.

Salim Khan struck again without addition to score when Myheim Khan fell for a duck, while Skipper Thaddeus Lovell (5) became the first of three batters to lose their wickets via the run-out route.

Jodon Campbell attempted a cut shot at one bounce and turned from ‘leggie’ Sanjay Algoo and was caught behind for 24 off 26 balls (two fours and six).
Seven batters failed to reach double figures in a poor display as the last seven wickets crumbled for 15 runs, leaving Essequibo all out for 108 in 34.5 overs.

Salim Khan took 3-30, while Kumar Deopersaud (2-11) and Algoo (2-27) bowled well for Berbice.
Berbice, in turn, reached 109-3 in 21.5 overs.

Rampersaud Ramnauth (12) and Kevin Kestin (0) were both caught behind of consecutive balls from the lively Bruce Vincent after the openers had put together 22.
Although Bruce was denied his hat-trick, the Essequibo new-ball bowlers Bruce and Lovell tested the batters with some good short balls as they both worked up some pace.

However, Skipper Rampertab Ramnauth and Damion Cecil added 18 to revive the position before Golcharran Chulai removed the former for an attractive 27 laced with two fours and a couple of sixes with the score at 40-3.
Cecil, who made 31 with two fours and Rashad Gaffur unbeaten on 22 saw Berbice to victory.

At Lusignan, the select X1 were bowled for 100 in 33 overs before Demerara, led by an undefeated 53 from Romeo Deonarain and 46 from Sachin Balgobin.
Earlier, only Justin Doobay who hit three fours in 23, Skipper Shiloh Adams 20 and Nityanand Matura unbeaten on 19, passed 15.
Wavel Allen (3-22), Riyad Latiff (3-33) and Alvin Mohabir (2-7) did the damage with the ball for the home team.

The next round will be played tomorrow with Berbice and Select X1 facing-off at Meten-Meer-Zorg and Demerara and Essequibo clashing at Malteenoes.
Both games are scheduled to commence at 09:30hrs.