Coach of the Demerara Under-19 Inter-county team currently contesting the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/GTM-sponsored Under-19 Inter-county tournament, Orin Bailey told Stabroek Sport that nothing but a comprehensive win is on his mind for today’s game.
Demerara lost first innings points to Essequibo in their drawn first round three-day encounter at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground last week and according to Bailey, his charges lost out owing to a lack of preparation.
“Our batting is of concern as we have not had any pitch preparation prior to our departure for the Essequibo game. Every time we make an attempt to go to the middle, the rain which we have no control over intervenes.”
The 49-year-old coach also feels that even though there is harmony among the players, his captain needs to be more au fait with his team.
“The lack of practice affected us in more ways than one in the game against Essequibo. Whilst the batsmen failed to show an appetite to bat long and score heavily, the captain was at sea when it comes to some of the players, as they did not play together.”
“We will be looking to go out there and correct the mistakes made against Essequibo with the view of a convincing win in mind. The senior players such as the skipper Jeetendra Sookdeo and Trevon Griffith who both played at the Junior level for Guyana, along with Seon Daniels, Dexter Solomon, Ryan Rajmangal and West Indies Under-15 left arm spinner Amir Khan will be expected to lead the charge for us,” said Bailey.
The Demerara team had a net session at the Everest Cricket Club ground yesterday, a stone’s throw away from the Police Sports Club ground where they will be encountering Essequibo today.
In their game against Essequibo where they lost first innings points, Rajmangal, Sookdeo, Solomon and fast bowler Andre Stoll stood out with the bat while Stoll, Khan, national Under-19 back of the arm spinner Totaram Bishun and Kishan Shivgobin led the bowling.
There is no Sookdeo (out injured), Rajmangal or Vickesh Dhaniram for this encounter, therefore the batting lineup for this encounter which is a new one, consists of Griffith, the pugnacious Quincy Ovid-Richardson, Rajendra Nikbarran who will be leading the side in Sookdeo’s absence, Dellon Fernandes, Shameer Fazal and all rounder Carl Rambharose.
Apart from Stoll and Daniels, the bowling lineup consists of Rambharose, Arif Habib, Totaram Bishun, Shivgobin and to a lesser extent, Habib, Griffith and Dhanpaul.
Meanwhile Stabroek Sport was made to understand that Khan and Devers are being rested from the limited overs version as the selectors opined they are more suitable for the three-day version of the tournament while Sookdeo was ordered to rest his injured back which flared up during the second innings against Essequibo.
Essequibo will be led by national Under-19 middle order batsman Royston Alkins who made a resilient 46, albeit in a losing cause against defending champions Berbice, but with Herrell Greene, Ravindra Parsram, Navin Singh, Floyd Henry and Grayson Paul in their lineup, they can pose a threat to the former champions.
Their bowling will be led by fast bowler Rensford Beaton who was a handful on a docile Anna Regina track against Demerara, Rovi Harris, Alkins, Paul and Under-15 skipper Anthony Adams who is also a useful customer with the bat.
Teams for this encounter which is expected to get underway from 09:30 hrs will be selected from:
Demerara: Rajendra Nikbarran (captain), Quincy Ovid Richardson, Shameer Fazal, Trevon Griffith, Dexter Charles, Medha Dhanpaul, Kishan Shivgobin, Dexter Solomon, Totaram Bishun, Arif Habib, Seon Daniels, Carl Rambharose, Dellon Fernandes and Andre Stoll.
Essequibo from: Royston Alkins (captain), Herrell Greene, Ravindra Parsram, Rovi Harris, Grayson Paul, Christopher Blucher, Suresh Persaud, Rensford Beaton, Floyd Henry, Anthony Adams, Dwayne Singh, Tulsiram Premnauth, Kevin Boodie and Navin Singh.
