Defending champions Berbice easily retained their Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter County title yesterday when rain washed out the final day of their clash against Demerara at the Police Sports Club ground Eve Leary.
Resuming on their overnight score of 243-8 with Homchand Pooran on 21 and Veerasammy Permaul one in reply to Demerara’s 378-7 declared, Berbice were bowled out for 259 when play started after the lunch break at 1230h.
Once again as on the previous day, seepage on the pitch caused the entire morning session to be lost and when play got underway, Rayon Griffith bowled like a man possessed to claim the final two wickets for Demerara to end with 5-61.
Earlier, Permaul struck Sauid Drepaul over long off for a six which also brought up the Berbice 250.
But Permaul was lbw to Griffith in the next over to a ball that swung back into him from outside off. He made seven from the 27 balls he faced, hitting one six during his 26 minutes vigil at the wicket.
The next man to go was Jeremy Gordon also via the lbw route without scoring, leaving Pooran, who also struck Drepaul over midwicket for six, unbeaten on 31.
Drepaul supported Griffith with 4-62 and Zaheer Mohammed who was not required to bowl yesterday 1-66.
With a first innings lead of 119, the Demerara openers Shemroy Barrington and Rajendra Chandrika added four more runs before the clouds opened at 1.18pm forcing the players off the field and signalling the end of the match at the same time.
In an invited comment, Travis Dowlin, captain of Demerara, told Stabroek Sport that the rain played havoc with his team’s chances of winning the trophy.
“Our most affected game would have been the first round clash with Essequibo where we lost two full days of cricket. Having said such, credit must go to the Berbicians who utilized the weather well in the game against the Cinderella County where they came out victorious,” Dowlin stated.
He also credited Griffith for his superlative bowling efforts on the low Eve Leary wicket.
“Credit must be given to Griffith and Drepaul for their efforts on this wicket. Unfortunately for Rayon, he has not been chosen by the selectors for participation in the upcoming trial games. Being the more senior Demerara fast bowler on the team, he stepped up to the plate and proved his worth and I must tip my hat to him.”
Meanwhile, Berbice off spinner Imran Jafferally, who was not named in the list given to the media previously, has been included in the squad that will participate in the trial matches commencing tomorrow at the DCC ground Queenstown.
Jafferally’s omission was due to an oversight by one of the selectors.
