NBS second division 40-overs also to be played

THE Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), GISE, Star Party Rental and Trophy Stall first division two-day and GCA and Friends of Cricket second division two-day cricket tournaments are scheduled for this weekend as ‘red ball’ cricket resumes.
The New Building Society (NBS) 40-overs second division tournament is also set continue over the weekend.

There have been calls from players, former players, sports journalists and fans for ‘two-innings’ red ball cricket to be played more often at first division level.
In the past players from Berbice and Essequibo would travel to Demerara to participate in Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) three-day first division competition held from Friday to Sunday and contested between the top five City teams and West Demerara, East Bank and East Coast.
Those days are long gone and the GCA first division cricket is now the pinnacle of ‘Red Ball’ first division cricket in Guyana where players from Berbice, Essequibo and ‘out of town’ still come to participate.

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), in the past hosted a three-day first division tournament from Upper Corentyne in region six to West Berbice in Region five.
Matches were in two zones (Corentyne) and (NA/Canjie and West Berbice) with the top two teams from each zone clashing in County-wide semi-finals.
Matches were played on Saturday and Sunday and concluded on the next Saturday with a 50-over tournament played on the free Sunday.
But since 2018 there has been no Red-ball first division played in Berbice.

According to former BCB president Hilbert Foster “The sponsors only invest in T20 tournaments while it’s difficult to organise two-day cricket since many of the players can’t play on Saturdays because of jobs or businesses.”
Chairman of GCA and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Competitions Committees, Shawn Massiah explained why two-day cricket is not played as often as it should in Georgetown.
“The problem is clubs don’t guarantee two consecutive days for GCA from a prolonged period because of other activities held on their grounds to generate funds to maintain the clubs.
It’s very expensive to run cricket clubs but must find a way to keep cricket alive…another problem is the adverse weather.”

GCA fixtures for the weekend:
On Saturday 25th/Sunday 26th January, 2025 GISE Star Party
Rental and Trophy Stall 1st Division 2 days:
Police vs. GCC at Police 9:oo hours start
GDF vs Transport at QC pitch # 1 at 9:oo hours start
Transport vs GDF at Transport at 10:30 hours start
On Saturday 25th January, NBS 2nd Division 40 overs:

Eldorado vs Diplomats at DCC start time 10:30 hours
MSC vs GCC at MSC. Start time 10:30 hours
Police vs PFA Agricola at QC pitch #3
Everest vs ACE Warriors at GCC. Start time 10:30 hours
On Sunday 26th January, NBS 2nd Division 40 overs:
GCC vs Sophia at GCC 10:30 hours start.
DCC vs MSC at DCC start time 10:30 hours start.
Bel Air Rubis vs Ace Warriors at MSC, 10:30 hours start.