Some robust batting from Vishnu Ramjeet (80) and Krishna Deosarran (59), followed by controlled spin bowling from Narvan Singh, enabled Lusignan Cricket Club (LCC) to defeat Central Essequibo by 73 runs in their semi-final clash of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Gafoors-sponsored nationwide first division 20/20 competition yesterday.
Central Essequibo won the toss and asked their opponents to take first strike on a slow wicket and heavy Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) outfield, but could only look on as Ramjeet who blazed his way to an entertaining 80 and Deosarran (59) took their team to 182-5 from their 20 overs.
Singh then returned with the ball to stifle the Essequibians batting line-up, claiming 3-26 from his four overs of controlled left arm orthodox bowling to leave them on 109-9 at the end of their 20 overs.
When LCC batted, they lost the wicket of Harrinarine Hira who was bowled by Latchman Rohit (2-15) off the second delivery of his team’s innings, but his downfall only brought Ramjeet and Deosarran together and they shared a second wicket partnership worth 112 runs.
They both displayed a no-nonsense mood with Deosarran hitting Travis Simon through midwicket and back over his head for four and six respectively while Ramjeet hit the spin of Ian Gonsalves over mid wicket and long on for four and six twice in successive overs.
Deosarran who is a former national Under-19 batsman then struck Gonsalves back over his head for six before he was bowled by his opposite number Yogeshwar Lall who ended with 3-32.
Ramjeet continued his onslaught when he struck Balchand Shivambar for 4,6,4,6, in an over which went for 22 runs, before posting his 50 with a big six off Lall who removed him three overs later but not before he had plundered the bowling for a further 32 more runs.
When he was removed, he had struck five fours and seven sixes while Deosarran struck four fours and the same number of sixes as they took their team to what turned out to be a winning total.
When Central Essequibo began their reply, they were met by an all spin attack employed by Deosarran.
Opener Dinesh Joseph struck national Under-15 left arm spinner Emran Khan for three fours, followed by a six over midwicket and another four through point before the bowler had the final say when he drew him down the wicket and had him stumped by wicketkeeper Nirmaldeo Sarwan for a top score of 30 which was decorated with four fours and one six from 19 balls.
No other batsman was able to offer resistance to the spin based attack employed by LCC, as Central Essequibo crumbled from 42-1 in the 7th over to 71-6 in the 15th.
Two straight sixes off the bowling of Singh from Khulraj Persaud batting at number nine helped to push the score to 91 before Rohit was caught on the boundary off Singh but at that time it was all over bar the shouting for Central Essequibo.
The final, which can be termed a rematch between LCC and DCC, is slated for Sunday at a venue to be decided.
