…as Alkins XI make strong reply

A patient and maiden ton from Essequibo’s Herrell Greene enabled Alkins XI to reach 327-7 at the end of the penultimate day in the Guyana Cricket Board Under-19 three-day trial match at the Police Sports Club ground yesterday.

Resuming the day on 14, with his team on 29 without loss in reply to Anthony Bramble’s XI first innings total of 252, Greene stroked his way to 145 made off 270 balls with 18 fours and one six while batting for 380 minutes, before he was the fourth batsman to be dismissed.

Greene had added 62 for the first wicket with his overnight partner Eon Hooper who was later caught by Jonathan Foo at first slip off Totaram Bishun (3-82) for 30 that included three fours, before he was joined by Jeetendra Sookdeo and they took the score to 122-1 before Sookdeo was forced to retire hurt.

Greene who was given a life by wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble who failed to hold onto a thin edge off the bowling of Sahadeo Somai when he was on 48, with Alkins XI 106-1 just before lunch, went onto record his half century from 82 balls with eight fours.

Sookdeo, who had struck Bishun back over his head for two fours, followed by a drive through the cover region off Somai, aggravated a back injury when he dived in order to survive a close run out opportunity from a Quincy Ovid-Richardson return and had to retire hurt on 30.

His return to the comfort of the pavilion never troubled Greene, and the batsman who had earlier struck national Under-19 fast bowler Keon Joseph for two boundaries in three balls, soldiered on for his team in co-operation with Rajendra Nikbarran who made 34 (4×4) during their 89-runs partnership.

After losing Nikbarran who was bowled by Foo, Greene posted his maiden ton from 193 balls, hitting 12 fours and one six which was struck over long on off the bowling of Bishun and in partnership Ravendra Parsram (15) took the score to 227-3.

He lost Parsram who was caught by Alex Amsterdam at mid off when he attempted to hit Bishun somewhere out of the Eve Leary  venue.

Seon Hetmyer joined Greene, but that’s when the heavens opened up at 14:17 hrs and forced the players off the field with Alkins XI who were 128-1 at lunch sitting comfortably on 227-3, a mere 25 runs away from their opponents score,  with Greene on 101.

When play resumed at 15:15 hrs, Greene struck Somai through point and backward square leg for successive boundaries while  he steered left arm fast bowler Andre Stoll who was armed with the second new ball, through the slip cordon twice for four.

But he got a thin edge through to Bramble who made no mistake off the bowling of fellow Essequibian Anthony Adams who later accounted for his Under-19 Inter-county skipper Royston Alkins (05), but not before Bishun had Hetmyer caught by Manoj Pooranauth for 30 to leave Alkins XI on 309-6.

Floyd Henry (06) was then caught by Ryan Rajmangal at slip off Bishun who ended the day with 3-82 and in tandem with Adams (2-15) and Foo 2-37, pulled things back for their team as Alkins XI closed the day on 327-7 with Dexter Solomon and Keyron Fraser being the not out batsmen on 11 and 05 respectively.

Coach pleased

Meanwhile, appointed coach of the team Hubern Evans told Stabroek Sport that he was pleased with the performance of the bowlers during the Inter-county tournament as well as the first innings of Bramble’s XI in this match.

“I must say that I am impressed with the bowling in both the Inter-county tournament and the first innings of this trial match. The bowlers have been bowling a consistent line and length, especially the fast bowlers.”

He continued, “Having said such, I would like to see the batsmen occupy the crease a little longer, displaying concentration and application along with an appetite for runs. I must say congrats to Greene on his maiden ton but in the same vein, I would love to see the experienced batsmen who have been getting starts, carry on.”

Evans believes that Guyana who last won the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/TCL regional Under-19 title in St. Kitts under the captaincy of Steven Jacobs have a very good chance of doing well in this year’s competition which is scheduled for Jamaica.

“We have a good crop of fast bowlers whilst the spinners need to do more work, especially with their variety of deliveries, but once the right combination is put together we stand a very good chance in this year’s tournament,” Evans said.

Guyana will play her first match in the tournament from 9th July to 4th August against the Leeward Islands.