Hemraj hits half-century on rain-ruined day
DESPITE losing the entire first session to early morning rain, Demerara ended the first day on 103 for 3, thanks to Chanderpaul Hemraj’s unbeaten 61 in their second round Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-organised, GTM-sponsored Under-19 Inter-county three-day match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, yesterday.
When play got under way, two hours and 50 minutes late, due to early morning rain which cancelled the entire morning session, Essequibo won the toss and asked Demerara to take first strike. They lost Steve Ramdass (1) who was caught at first slip by Vijay Surujpaul when he flashed at a wide delivery from Kevin Fredericks.
Christopher Surat (14) responded to Ramdass’ demise by hitting first class fast bowler Ronsford Beaton through extra cover for four, while Chanderpaul Hemraj also struck two fours, before Mark Tyrell induced Surat to edge a delivery to first slip, where Ricardo Adams accepted the offer.
At 35 for 2, Guyana and West Indies Under-19 middle order batsman and Demerara’s skipper Kwame Crosse strolled to the wicket to join Hemraj and they took their team to tea with the scoreboard reading 37 for 2 with Hemraj on 12 and Crosse 01.
After tea, Essequibo removed Crosse who was bowled by Vijay Surujpaul when he offered no shot to a ball that was pitched on the off stump, while Hemraj drove Beaton back past him for four, before the 50 was realised in the 27th over of the innings.
After hitting Anthony Adams for two fours, Hemraj raised his 50 by lifting Surujpaul over long off for six off the 94th ball he faced, batting for 169 minutes. He also hit six fours while pushing Demerara to 84 for 3, with Jahron Byron who replaced Crosse on 3.
Byron raised the team’s 100 in the 48th over, when he struck Herry Greene through backward point for his first boundary, bringing up the 50-partnership between himself and Hemraj. When bad light stopped play at 17:10hrs Demerara were 103 for 3 off 49 overs.
Hemraj scored 61, decorated with six fours and one six off 127 balls during his 205-minute sojourn, while Byron was on 10. Play will resume at 09:30hrs today, weather permitting.
Tyrell, Fredericks and Surujpaul have so far taken a wicket each for Essequibo, while Hemraj and Byron are featured in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership that is worth 56 runs from 25 overs of cautious batting on an uneven wicket.