A fine spell of spin bowling from Sauid Drepaul along with incisive fast bowling from Rayon Griffith restricted Berbice to 243-8 in their first innings in reply to Demerara’s 378-7 declared, placing Demerara in a strong position to claim first innings points in the Guyana Cricket Board’s Inter-County final at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, yesterday.
Berbice, overnight 44-1, had to wait until the post lunch period to begin their reply due to a seepage on the pitch caused from overnight rain.
A total of 147 minutes was lost and when play began, Richard Ramdeen and Assad Fudadin took the score to 66 from the seven overs they faced before Griffith induced Ramdeen to drive at a delivery from outside off stump, edging the ball straight to Leon Johnson at first slip.
Ramdeen had made 36 from 55 balls with three fours including a straight drive all along the ground off Griffith during his 68-minute stay at the wicket.
In Griffith’s next over new batsman Royston Crandon struck a delivery straight back to the bowler who accepted it gleefully to spark off wild celebrations on the field.
Berbice were suddenly 70-3 from 20.3 overs with the Demerara bowlers charging in at top speed on the low, slow wicket.
They were repelled by Gajanand Singh and Fudadin, who frustrated the Demerara bowlersin a fifth wicket partnership of 133.
Singh was in a no nonsense mood from ball one when he came off the mark with a pugnacious drive for four off Drepaul that beat a diving Chris Barnwell at mid off.
He also struck Griffith through the extra cover region for two more boundaries, and when Demerara skipper Travis Dowlin introduced Zaheer Mohamed from the Southern end, he took a liking to the spinner hitting him over the top for successive sixes.
He posted the team’s 100 with a glance off his pads through mid wicket for two off Griffith and then brought up his 50 with savage pull off the final ball of the first over bowled by Leon Johnson over a wide long on for six.
He faced 64 balls and struck three sixes and eight fours during his 83 minutes of batting.
Fudadin on the other hand was playing the sheet anchor role and endured some anxious moments from Drepaul and Mohammed on occasions.
He, however, reached his 50 when he pushed a delivery from Johnson to long off. He faced 106 balls hitting two fours and batting for 145 minutes.
At tea, Berbice were 182-3 with Singh on 67 and Fudadin on 56
The break, though, seemed to revive the Demerara bowlers who came out a rejuvenated bunch and quickly claimed three quick wickets to set the defending champions back.
Drepaul started the slide when he induced Fudadin to hit a delivery straight to Krishna Deosarran on the long on fence with the score on 201.
Fudadin batted for 173 minutes and hit five fours in his 147-ball 71.
Six overs later, the Drepaul/Deosarran combination was at it again, this time accounting for Singh who was caught in the same position with Deosarran having to jump and claim an overhead catch this time around.
Singh made 76 from 113 balls with six fours and three sixes during his 136-minute stay at the wicket.
Skipper Esaun Crandon entered and left the scene without a trace as he calmly pushed a short delivery from Drepaul straight into the hands of Mohammed at mid on only two balls after the departure of Singh.
Berbice were shakily placed on 212-6 from the comfortable position of 182-3 at tea in the space of 10.5 overs.
All the while a subdued Homchan Pooran was witnessing the demise of his teammates at the other end.
Devendra Bishu joined him and together they took the score to 233-7 with Bishu hitting Griffith back along the ground for four, a shot that ensured Demerara will bat again as Berbice sailed past the follow on target of 228.
But the bowler got the final laugh when he bowled Bishu for eight. He faced 24 balls and struck one four during his short 33 minutes stay at the wicket.
Imran Jafferally joined Pooran but only lasted five balls making one before he was caught by Steven Jacobs at mid on.
When the umpires offered lights to the batsmen at 5.08pm, Berbice were 243-8 still needing a further 136 runs to gain unwanted first innings points.
They however need a draw to ensure that they retain the trophy.
Bowling for Demerara, Drepaul has so far taken 4-47, Griffith 3-60 and Mohammed 1-66.
Play is set to start at 0930hrs today the final day with the most likely result being a draw.
