By Calvin Roberts
Demerara, led by resilient bowling from left-arm fast bowler Andre Stoll, took first innings points from Berbice despite a defiant 95 from wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble in their final preliminary round match of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Under-19 Inter-County, three-day competition at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Queenstown, yesterday.
Resuming on their overnight 27-1 replying to Demerara’s 316, Berbice were bowled out for 284 with Stoll claiming 4-39 on a helpful wicket.
At the close, Demerara, with a lead of 32, were 17-0 an overall lead of 49.
Troy Nurse is not out on eight and Rajendra Nikbarran not out six.
Earlier, defiant batting by Seon Hetymyer (63) and Bramble (95) put Berbice, who only need a draw to claim the title, in a strong position to claim first innings points.
The Berbicians lost their second wicket in the third over of the day’s play when Manoj Pooranauth was caught by Troy Nurse at second slip as he fended at a short ball from Leon Scott (2-84).
A 70-run, fourth-wicket partnership between Alex Amsterdam (34) and Hetymyer, stabilized the Berbice innings before Amsterdam was caught off the bowling of Totaram Bishun.
Jonathon Foo was run out after Hetymyer refused a second run and captain Eugene La Fleur followed caught by Denver Greaves off Stoll for five.
However, Bramble joined forces with Hetymyer who reached his 50 from 104 balls after batting for 144 minutes and hitting six fours and one six.
The two posted 58 runs for the seventh wicket before Hetymyer suffered a fate similar to the one Foo endured when Bramble refused to go for a second run and he was run out by the full length of the pitch for a well-played 63.
Bramble continued to soldier on in the company of Stephen Latcha and raised his 50 when he struck Scott exquisitely through the cover region for another of his 14 fours.
At tea, Berbice were 237-7 with Bramble
