Defending champs Demerara to face host Essequibo in final

WATCHED by a large and raucous crowd at Number 69 Ground in Upper Corentyne Berbice, defending Champions Demerara beat the home side by three wickets in Queensway Security Inter-County Super50 semi-final.

Demerara now advances to next Sunday’s final against Essequibo in Region 2 from 9:00hrs.

Yesterday, in sunny conditions and a two-paced track which favoured spin, Berbice, strengthened by the inclusion of West Indies batters Kevlon Andreson and Shimron Hetmyer, were bowled out for 162 in 47.4 overs.

Demerara recovered from 90-6 to reach 166-7 in 46 overs to the disappointment of the partisan crowd.

Berbice batted first and slipped to 47-5 when left-handed Hetmyer (16) edged a ball which turned from off-spinner Richie Looknauth as his run of poor form continued.

Left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd bowled Junior Sinclair (3) at 4-1 and trapped Skipper Anderson lbw for a duck at 6-2.

Tomanni Caesar (4) was lbw to Looknauth 23-3 while Chanderpaul Ramraj induced West Indies players Kevin Sinclair (17) at 31-4.

When Hetmyer, who hit a couple of spanking boundaries in 24-ball innings was ended by Looknauth, the fans – packed in mini-buses and cars parked out on the ground outside the boundary –  were anticipating an early day.

However, Garfield Benjamen and National all-rounder Clinton Pestano featured in a 45-run partnership with dogged batting on a track which curtailed free scoring.

But with the score on 92, Benjamen (22) was caught behind by Skipper and West Indies Keeper Tevin Imlach and Ramraj struck for a second time.

Zeynul Ramsammy, with a fighting 39 from 67 with a single four and six, and Pestano added valuable lower-order runs before Pestano (29 from 28 balls with 3×4 and 2×6) fell to the multi-talented 18-year-old Jonathon Van Lange.

Van Lange who is also a national table tennis player and the present National ‘Doubles’ Champion along with Shemar Britton.

Veerasammy Permaul (6) arrived at the crease with Berbice on 131-7 and Looknauth bowled Permaul and removed Ramsammy as two wickets fell at 147.

The last pair of home boy and crowd favourite Omesh Mathura (12) and pacer Sylus Tyndell (4*) took Berbice to 162 before Matthew Nandu had Mathura lbw.

Looknauth (4-31), Nedd (2-23) and Ramraj (2-20) were the pick of the bowlers for Demerara who removed both openers with the score on 30.

Nandu, the only batter with a ton in the tournament, was bowled by Permaul for 13 before Junior Sinclair had Ushardeva Balgobin (15) caught and bowled.

When Junior Sinclair removed Raymond Perez (5) and trapped Imlach (15) to leave the score 63-4, the visitors knew they were in a fight and home fans were dancing to the rhythms of Tassa drums.

However, a well-constructed unbeaten 61 with two fours and two sixes and 37-ball 36 not out from Van Lange, which included a four and three sixes saw Demerara home.

Junior Sinclair had 3-48 while Permaul took 2-15 in a losing cause