By Calvin Roberts
Former national under-19 player, Essequibo’s Deonauth Baksh guided his team Calcutta Sports Club to the runner up position and an automatic spot in the first division competition in the just concluded Trinidad and Tobago Super league cricket competition.
Baksh, who had the distinct opportunity of representing Guyana at the under-19 level in 1999, scored 561 runs from 11 innings with an average of 62.33 and a highest score of 125* against Sheffield Sports Club. He also scored four 50s.
He also took 15 wickets with his best returns being 3-25 also against Sheffield Sports Club. Following his century, he got 77 against Brand Source Sports Club that included former national under-19 fast bowler Ryan Hercules and his Guyana national Industrial Corporation (GNIC) teammate Mark Montfort.
The senior Essequibo Inter-County player who returned home on Monday also had the opportunity of being named one of five cricketers of the year in the Super league last year.
“The Leagues are very competitive with numerous foreign players turning out for the teams there. They are much more organized too whilst the business community puts a lot into sports there,” Baksh told Stabroek Sport in an invited comment.
“I had the opportunity of playing against some of my fellow Guyanese such as former West Indies under-19 opener Richard Ramdeen who along with Sylvester Joseph played for Old Man Agro Exchange Sports Club, Waheid Edwards and Rakesh Goberdhan (Caroni Savannah Road) and Devon Clements who ended as the highest run scorer in the tournament and Charles Shepherd (Inshan Milton Valley Boys).”
Baksh indicated that he had been offered another contract with his club which will now be participating in the first division competition and is eagerly looking forward to playing in same.
“I am looking forward to playing in the first division where I will have the opportunity of playing against the island’s first class players in the likes of Darren Bravo, William Perkins, Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons just to name a few next year. The Club pays my airfare and with the implementation of CSME, I can now work and play cricket in Trinidad. Come next year, more money will be spent on local cricket there, so one can actually earn a living from playing cricket there alone. I think that is one of the reasons why they (Trinidad) have been doing so good in regional competitions for the past few seasons,” said Baksh.
Baksh is hoping to take his current form with him to his local club Demerara Cricket Club, where he will be looking to get amongst the runs thus guaranteeing himself a permanent position on the Essequibo senior inter county team.
