WATCHED by a small gathering in sunny conditions after a 30-minute delay due to preparation moisture in the pitch, Dave Mohabir’s X1 made 174 reply to the paltry 107 made by Richard Ramdehol’s X1 when bails were lifted on the opening day of National U-17 two-day match yesterday at the LBI ground on the East Coast of Demerara
On a slow track, which made ‘playing through the line’ problematic, Mohabir’s X1 slipped to 19-2 as the impressive Benjamin removed Lomar Seecharran (8) and Jathneil Nurse (6).
Vishal Williams and Emmanuel Lewis batted positively and saw the 50 posted.

Mentore broke the promising partnership when he dismissed Williams for 19 with four fours with the score on 52.
Lewis played with fluency and got support from Devin Lallbeharry as the pair added 28 to stage a mini-recovery before Mentore removed Lallbeharry (4) at 70-4.
Lewis’ entertaining innings ended when he had his stumps disturbed by Yacoob at 84-5. Lewis’ 37 lasted 37 balls and was decorated with seven boundaries.

Bomesh Lall continued to look good, but soon lost Sohail Mohamed (11), lbw to Yacoob at 99-6 and Dave Mohabir (9) bowled by Danesh Persaud at 125-7.
Without addition to the score, Lall, who made 28 with four boundaries, fell to Navindra Sankar.

Prince hammered Persaud for four to bring up the 150 as he and Reaz Latif carried the score 164 before Latif (15) was bowled by Danvir Seegobin.
Prince hit three fours and two sixes in his 33 before he fell to Persaud at 174 in the 44th over.

Eoin Benjamin, Mentore, Yacoob and Persaud had two wickets each for Ramdeholl’s X1.
Ramdehol’s X1 will start their second innings with a deficit of 67 runs today.
Earlier, Ramdehol’s X1 were off to a bad start, losing their first two wickets with just a run on the board.

Thierry Henry (0) edged Darwin Joseph to the Wicket-keeper while the Skipper Ramdeholl (1) was caught off Prince to leave his team 2-1.
Elisha Ramdat (7) and Mentore, who stroked three boundaries in a top-score of 24, added 18, but just when the partnership was looking good, Ramdat departed at 19 before the well-set Mentore offered a return catch to Dennis Crossman with the score on 39-4.

Mohabir, who finished with 3-20, dismissed Nicholas Lovell (1), Ravesh Singh (3) and Yacoob (9) in the space of five runs as Ramdeholl’s X1 slumped to 57-7.
Two more quick wickets tumbled, and at 69-9 a three-figure total seemed unlikely.

But Benjamin joined Arif Khan to take the score to 107. Benjamin clobbered a six and a four in his 20 while Khan’s 11 included a six and a four.
Joseph (2-9), Feaz Baksh (2-10) and Nurse (2-18) supported their Captain with the ball.

Today is the second and final day, and play is scheduled to commence at 09:00 hours.
The National U-17 Squad is expected to be selected this Evening for the Regional U-17 tournament in Trinidad, which will take place from August 11 to September 1.