Hosts Essequibo placed themselves in the driver’s seat of their second round encounter against defending champions Berbice at the end of the first day at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground, after national all-rounder Jonathan Foo’s heroics with the ball.
Playing in their second round match of this year’s Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/GTM sponsored Under-19 Inter-county tournament, Essequibo winning the toss and opting to take first strike were bowled out for 151 from 61 overs, as Foo claimed 9-53 with his right arm off spin, to which Berbice were 72-6 in reply.
Navin Singh (38; 5×4) and Herrell Greene (32; 4×4) added 61 for the first wicket from 20 overs before Foo, who was also struck for two sixes by Essequibo’s skipper Royston Alkins, started his demolition of the Cinderella County batting line up.
Floyd Henry (29; 5×4) and Alkins who made 22 (2×6) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures against the bowling of Foo who was a one- man army for his team.
Trinson Carmichael took the other wicket, denying Foo the opportunity of taking 10 wickets. The wicket was that of Ravindra Parsram who was caught by Berbice’s skipper and wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble for 15.
But Essequibo struck back in the field to leave their opponents who are defending the title they won from Demerara last year, shakily placed on 72-6, still needing another 80 runs for first innings points.
Manoj Pooranauth (29; 2×4) Seon Hetemyer who is unbeaten on 20 and Harrinarine Chattergoon, 13, were the principle scorers for their team at the close of play, against the bowling of Rovi Harris (2-20) and Rensford Beaton (2-27).
Both bowlers were impressive in their respective spells, which left Berbice tottering on 9-2 at one stage, with Beaton who was impressive with the new ball against Demerara, sending back opener Joemal La Fleur who was lbw for one and Foo, with the latter being caught by Alkins on the mid wicket boundary off the first delivery.
Harris had earlier accounted for the other opener in Eon Hooper whose stumps were disturbed for three.
Today is the second day of the match and certainly, Essequibo will be looking to continue their impressive showing in the tournament so far, by claiming first innings points before pressing for a victory.
