OVER the weekend, two-day first division cricket returned to the city in scorching heat and under a clear blue sky. The GISE, Star Party Rental & Trophy Stall First Division Two-day Cricket was played at the Police Sports Club ground at Eve Leary.
Despite scoring 114 runs in the match and capturing 5-39, Tagenarine Chanderpaul could not prevent Everest from suffering a 171-run defeat at the hands of Police when the game ended on Sunday.

Scores: Police (332 and 139), Everest 103 and 177)

At the end of the opening day, Police were 1-0 after making 332 in their first innings and dismissing Everest for 103.
Despite not enforcing the follow-on to give their bowlers a rest, the Cops were in firm control at the end of the opening day.
On the back of a century from skipper and Essequibo Inter County batter Kunhulya Ramkarran, who made 109 with 10 fours and a six and a swashbuckling 71 from 33 balls with nine sixes
and a four, Police amassed 332.

Ramkarran and Pernell London, who hit five fours and three sixes in an attractive 53 from Chemroy Kendall, added 104 for the sixth wicket as they launched a vicious assault on the Everest bowlers.

Batting in T20 mode, Kendall raced to his fifty with all guns blazing from just 16 balls.
Left-arm spinner Javid Rasheed had 3-57 while National off- spinner Richie Looknauth (2-77), left-arm Pacer Chris Harry (2-47) and off-spinner Rafael Singh (2-27) were the most successful bowlers for Everest, who were bundled out for 103.

When Everest began their reply, Mark Jeffers removed Rishi Hiralall (2) while Dick sent back Ushardeva Balgobin (12) and Nityanand Mathura (3) with Everest in early trouble at 20-3.
Test player Chanderpaul top-scored with a carefully constructed 48 from 72 balls with six fours and a six before he was ninth out, looking to keep the strike.
Looknauth returned with the bat to score 33 from 53 balls with four fours.

The pair put together 70 for the fourth wicket before Looknauth was trapped lbw to Ivor Trotz at 90-4.
After Looknauth and Chanderpaul were separated, the last six wickets tumbled for 13 runs as Dick (4-29) and Trotz (4- 22) shared eight wickets between them.
Police were 1-0 overnight with Kelvin Leith (1) and Jason Anderson (0) enjoying an overall lead of 230.
Anderson (1) was removed by Chanderpaul at 3-1 in the first over of the second day.

Leitch (20) and London (20) took the score to 41 before London provided Chanderpaul, bowling medium pace, with his second wicket as Police slipped to 43-3 Kevin Boodie hit five fours in his 40 before he fell to Chanderpaul, but only Dick with an unbeaten 29 with five fours and a six and Kendall (11) reached double figures as Police were dismissed for 139.
Rasheed supported Chanderpaul (5-39) with 4-39 to finish with match figures of 7-96.

Everest, needing 367 runs for an improbable win, were dismissed for 177 batting a second time.
Balgobin hit nine fours in 60 while Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 66 from 81 balls with five fours and two sixes as they both scored half-centuries. Denesh Mangal offered resistance with four fours and a six in his 25.
Trotz had 5-34 to take nine wickets in the match. Dick took 3- 50 to add to his four scalps in the first innings.