Berbice overwhelm President’s XI by three wickets; rain spoils Demerara/Essequibo clash
DEFENDING champions Berbice started their title defence with a crushing victory over President’s XI on the opening day of the annual El Dorado 50-Over Cricket Competition when the two sides battled at the Blairmont Community Centre (BCC) ground, yesterday. The other match between Demerara and Essequibo which was scheduled to take place at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground (GCC), Bourda was washed out due to early morning rain which made the surface unfit for play.
However, after the match was called off around 14:20hrs, the competitions committee of the Guyana Cricket Board advised that a Reserve Day has now been inserted  in all the matches of the 2011 El Dorado inter-county 50 overs tournament.
Over at the Blairmont Community Centre ground, Berbice won the toss and gave the opposition the opportunity to take first strike and restricted then to 168 in 49.2 overs then comfortably reached the target of 169 in 38.2 overs.
Sewnarine Chattergoon made 30 at the top of the order for the President’s XI and received support from Steven Jacobs who top-scored with a watchful 45 as Berbice’s Eugene La Fleur finished with 3-27 and was helped by Stephen Latcha who claimed 2-20.
In Berbice’s reply, Royston Crandon and Jonathan Foo’s unbeaten scores of 61 and 51 respectively, were enough to get them to the target.
The competition continues with two more matches tomorrow when  Berbice face Demerara at the GCC ground and Essequibo oppose the  President’s XI at Everest Cricket Cricket ground.