Defending champions Ber-bice will take on Demerara from today in the final game of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter-County four-day cricket competition at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.
The two teams have had contrasting starts to the competition with Demerara winning on first innings against Essequibo while Berbice defeated them by an innings. In that light, one can only wonder what the outcome will be as Berbice only needs a draw to retain the title they won in 2005 under the captaincy of Damodar Dasrat, while Demerara will have to secure an outright victory to regain the title they lost since 2004.
In an invited comment with Stabroek Sport, captain of Demerara Travis Dowlin expressed his confidence in his team and is earnestly looking forward to four full days of competitive cricket.
“We are quite familiar with the Berbice players and as such, we have a game plan in hand as we will be looking to come out victorious and lift the title at the end of the day. Having said that, our preparations have been coming along nicely with some of our players who did not come off in the Essequibo match getting in some nice scores at the club level,” Dowlin stated.
He further mentioned how delighted it would be if the top order can get going against the Ancient County bowlers.
“I would love to see the top order batsmen especially Barrington (Shemroy ) and Barnwell (Chris) get going against the Berbice bowlers and lay a solid foundation for the middle led by former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 captain Leon Johnson and present West Indies under-19 captain Steven Jacobs to build on. These are guys who can hold their own with the bat, so it would be nice not only for them but the team if they can get a start.”
On a wicket with some moisture, Essequibo had Demerara reeling on 5-2 inside the first 15 minutes of play and with bowlers of the calibre of captain Esaun Crandon, the fiery Jeremy Gordon who wrecked the Cinderella County first innings and Brendon Bess, should the Demerara batsmen not decide to put their heads down and bat, then their hopes of lifting the championship trophy after the fourth day seem gloomy.
His counterpart Crandon (Esaun) in an invited comment after his team defeated Essequibo by an innings and 151 runs said that they would not be taking Demerara lightly.
“They (Demerara) are a much more competitive bunch than Essequibo. Having the likes of Dowlin, Johnson and Jacobs in their team augurs well for them, but their bowling, missing former West Indies players in Mc Garrell and King, still looks weak despite they took first innings from Essequibo,” Crandon stated.
“However, we will start as favourites, taking into consideration our resounding victory over Essequibo and the fact that a draw can allow us to retain the title. We will still be playing positive cricket from ball one and look for another outright victory,” Crandon further stated.
Without the injured West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, all the work in the middle order in the opening game rested on the shoulders of Dowlin with the captain answering the call by producing a patient and unbeaten 102 to help shoulder the batting and see his team to 248-8 declared with the aid of some gusty batting from former national under-19 batsman Krishna Deosarran (44) and Zaheer Mohammed (31) at the depth.
The depleted Demerara bowling attack would, however, be of concern to Dowlin. Minus the experienced Reon King and Neil ‘Beast’ Mc Garrell, with the latter being discarded by the selectors for no reason given although he was available for selection, Rayon Griffith and Barnwell who shared the new ball did not look in sync for one bit with Barnwell outperforming his more senior partner when he made the breakthroughs for his captain.
National under-19 fast bowler Leon Scott was selected to replace King, but on his home ground he was utilized to carry drinks and the towel against Essequibo.
Given the recent form of centurions Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin and Homchand Pooran for Berbice, then add the most talented young batsman in the country at present, former Guyana and West Indies youth player Gajanand Singh to the fore and the Demerara bowlers can expect a rough day at the office.
With Sewnarine Chattergoon expected to return also from his preparatory camp with the West Indies in Barbados, former West Indies under-19 batsman Richard Ramdeen and with the inform Ranga Lachigadu in the lineup also, the batting is expected to be a force to reckon with. The Berbicians will be looking to get within the region of 375-450 on the small PSC ground.
Their bowling are in the capable hands of the Crandon brothers, Gordon, Bess, West Indies under-19 selectee left arm orthodox spinner Verasammy Permaul, right arm leg spinner Devendra Bishu and Fudadin who troubled Johnson when the two went against each other in the nationwide Neal and Massey semi-final at Bourda, bowling off spin.
Also in the fray is the under-rated Scotsburg United national off spinner Imran Jafferally.
Demerara: Travis Dowlin, Steven Jacobs, Chris Barnwell, Rajendra Chandrika, Shemroy Barrington, Leon Johnson, Dion Ferrier, Joseph Perry, Ricardo Jadunauth, Leon Scott, Krishna Deosarran, Zaheer Mohammed, Sauid Drepaul and Rayon Griffith. Orin Bailey (coach) and Robert Adonis (manager).
Berbice : Esaun Crandon, Royston Crandon, Ranga Lachigadu, Homchand Pooran, Gajanand Singh, Assad Fudadin, Delbert Hicks, Imran Jafferally, Devendra Bishu, Verasammy Permaul, Brendon Bess, Richard Ramdeen and Jeremy Gordon. Hubern Evans (coach) and David Black (manager).
