DEMERARA skipper Matthew Nandu scored a 102-ball 73  with seven boundaries to lead his team to a 50-run win over Essequibo at the ‘new’ Hampton court ground on the Essequibo Coast as the GCB’s Queensway Security Service Inc Inter-County Super50 got underway, yesterday.

Ushardeva Balgobin (40) and Raymond Perez (40), Mavindra Dindyal (14), Shamar Apple (11) Ashmead Nedd (10) and Richie Looknauth (10) were the batters to reach double figures as Demerara from 180-3 to all out for 229 in 45.2 overs.

Nandu and Balgobin added 67 for the first wicket before Keemo Paul removed Balgobin.

Perez and Nandu then took the score 140 before Perez departed before Dindyal was run out at 167-3.

When Ricardo Adams had Jonathan Van Lange (5) caught and bowled at 180 Demerara lost their seven wickets for 49 runs.

Thaddeus Lovell took-43 including the scalps of Nandu, Renaldo Ali-Mohammed (0) and Looknauth.

Ronsford Beaton (2-29) and Adams (2-39) were other wicket- takers for Essequibo who were dismissed for 179 in 37.3).

Paul hit two sixes in 30 but only Kevin Boodie (29) of the other batters passed 15.

Kemol Savory scored and Van Lange bowled Quinton Sampson for a first ball duck to finish with 4-35 and got support from Looknauth (3-26).

The tournament continues today with Berbice facing the GCB Select. The game commences at 09:00 hours.