–Imlach, Nandu and Ali-Mohamed star in 7-wicket win over Essequibo

HALF-centuries from skipper Tevin Imlach and Matthew Nandu, along with a Man-of-the-Match (4-47) from Renaldo Ali-Mohamed led defending champions Demerara to an emphatic seven-wicket win over Essequibo in the final of the GCB Inter-County Super50 at GCC Ground, Bourda yesterday.
Scores: (E’bo 164 in 46.5 overs, Dem 167-3 in 33.4 overs)

The win was the second in two days for Demerara over Essequibo, who settled for the runners-up spot despite 49 from Kanhaiya Ramkarran, who shared in a couple of 40-run partnerships, with Kemol Savary (21) for the third wicket, and with Keanu Harry (26) for the sixth wicket.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the tournament’s MVP and batter with the most runs (239), followed up his unbeaten 103 with two fifties scored 33 yesterday.
He added 56 with Nandu for the first wicket before he was hit on his elbow, and had to retire hurt.
Sachin Singh (1) fell to Quinton Sampson at 57-1, before Nandu, whose 59 from 89 balls with four fours and a six, and Imlach, who scored an unbeaten 56 from 73 balls with three boundaries, shared in a 90-run stand.

Nandu, who reached his fifty from 77 balls with fours, celebrated the landmark with a six off young pacer Thaddeus Lovell, was removed by off-spinner Malcolm Hubbard at 147-2.
Hubbard (2-19) got one to turn away from the left-handed Akshaya Persaud (1), who edged it to slip two runs later.
Persaud had been Demerara’s most fluent batter, and will be a big loss for Guyana in Regional Super50, which starts on October 29, since he will be representing CCC.
Imlach reached his 50 from 64 balls on arguably the best pitch in Guyana, and spongy outfield, and along with Raymond Perez (not out 6) saw the host to a victory that took longer than it should have to be completed.

Openers Kevin Boodie (1) and Kemo Paul (1) were removed with just five runs on board, and although Ramkarran held up the Demerara bowlers for 128 balls in his 49 with just a single boundary, only Harry, Savory and Sampson (19) off the other batters.
All-rounder Ali-Mohamed troubled the batters with his lateral movement and short balls, while left-arm spinner Ashmead
Nedd had 2-25 before last man Ronsford Beaton (5) fell to left-arm spinner Devon Lord, who ended with 11 scalps, the most in the tournament. Imlach had the most catches (9) by a wicket-keeper.

Demerara collected the Winner’s trophy, while Essequibo took home the runners-up trophy.
Trophies were awarded to Chanderpaul, Lord, and Ali-Mohamed, while President of ECB and Acting President of GCB Delip Singh confirmed that there was no prize money in the tournament.