GCA West Indian Imports 50-over first division cricket…

NATIONAL Captain Tevin Imlach put on a batting master-class yesterday at Bourda to lead DCC to a 126-run victory against GCC, as action continued in the GCA’s Dave’s West Indies Imports first division 50-over cricket tournament.

Watched by a large and raucous gathering of mostly DCC fans, the Queenstown unit opted to bat in bright sunshine on a good track and fast outfield, and on the back of Imlach’s magnificent 156 from 130 balls with 10 glorious boundaries, DCC galloped to the tournament’s highest total of 352-8, surpassing Malteenoes’ 350-8 against Eldorado.

The 28-year-old Imlach, who is scheduled to depart Guyana tomorrow for St. Kitts, where Guyana will battle the Leewards in the penultimate round of West Indies first-class championship, shared in four half-century partnerships.

With openers Brandon Jaikarran (0) and Alphius Bookie (2) dismissed with 15 runs on the board, Raymond Perez, who will also be on the plane to St. Kitts, joined Imlach, and the pair took the score to 69-3 when the 54-run stand was broken.

National all-rounder Renaldo Ali-Mohammed dismissed the dashing Perez for a cameo 25 with two fours and couple of sixes, before Imlach, who made 83 in the last round of this competition, and 18-year-old Jonathan Van Lange joined forces.

But with the score on 148 and a partnership worth 79, Van Lange attempted a slug-sweep from outside the off stump, and top-edged a catch to point as Sinclair made the breakthrough. Van Lange’s 35-ball 39 included two fours and three sixes.

Imlach, who reached his fifty from 35 balls with three fours and a six after being dropped on 18 off Ali-Mohammed, added 67 with Sachin Singh before Singh (23) was bowled by Sinclair at 219-5.

Former West Indies T20 player Chris Barnwell (18) and Imlach, who reached his century from 81 balls with seven fours and a six, much to the delight of the DCC fans, was removed by left-arm spinner Devon Lord at 219-5, as the GCC Captain broke the 52-run stand.

After reaching his ton, Imlach changed gear and whipped Lovell for four, before using his feet to the expensive Sinclair, and depositing his fellow Test player for consecutive sixes.
Joshu Persaud hammered Lovell for two fours and a six in an expensive over, while Imlach dumped Sinclair, who bowled too fast, for a massive straight six as boundaries flowed at Bourda.
Persaud pulled Ali-Mohammed for two sixes before smashing the pacer for four to reach his 50 from 28 balls with two fours and three sixes as the carnage continued.

Imlach soon reached his 150 from 126 balls decorated with 10 classy fours and four well-timed sixes before he was bowled by the impressive Lord at 336-7.
Ashamed Nedd, set to make his first debut for Guyana in St. Kitts, was bowled by Lord. Persaud was on 53 when the 50 overs expired.
Lord had 3-60, while Sinclair took 2-66 for GCC, who were 35-1 when Yeudister Persaud (18) fell to Perez.

Navindra Persaud batted through the innings to finish, unbeaten, a well-complied 96 from 136 with 10 fours after last man Tycee Glasgow (1) was run out with one ball remaining in the match.
The 22-year-old Persaud, who will become a qualified doctor next month got support from Sinclair as the pair put on 69 for the second wicket, before Sinclair, who pulled Perez for three sixes with the last one landing on the Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.

But Sinclair, in his second match for GCC, was removed by Nedd for 38 with one four and four sixes at 104-2.
Ali-Mohammed (15), Dhanish Persaud (21) and Lovell (13) were the only other batters to reach double figures as GCC fell for 229.

Barnwell (3-42), Nedd (2-26) and Jaden Dowlin (2-28) bowled DCC to an emphatic win in what was a precursor to the Pepsi first-division final between the same two teams.