-debris left on ground, Mentore disappointed
By Marlon Munroe
Rain washed out play on the first day in the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Cellink Plus Cup final between Everest Cricket Club (ECC) and the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda yesterday.
Despite a final being scheduled at the venue there was still debris on the ground from the Clive Lloyd stand that is currently being dismantled. Moreover, there was inadequate covering around the playing area so when the rains came yesterday there was heavy seepage.
Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) President Alfred Mentore voiced his disappointment over the “ridiculous position.” He also noted that since this was such an important final in the local cricket calendar, better attention should have been paid by the management of the GCC.
“I am very disappointed with what has actually happened here this morning. We gave the match to the Georgetown Cricket Club in order to host the finals and there are certain obvious things that come with hosting a final, especially making sure the ground is in a pristine condition, the wicket is fully covered as well as the surroundings,” Mentore declared.
When Stabroek Sport tried to solicit a comment from the executive of the GCC, manager of the ground, Gladstone Fausett told this newspaper that the president Paul Chan-A-Sue was not around and stated that he had absolutely no comment to make on the issue. Attempts to get a comment from other members of the executive body also proved futile.
Meanwhile, both teams were confident going into the final. Co-defending champions GNIC, who shared the title with Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) last year, will be without the services of former West Indies off-spinner, now chairman of the West Indies Selection Committee, Clyde Butts who is in South Africa with the WI team for the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament.
GNIC, who defeated MSC in the semi-final, also have right-handed batsman Elton Baker who recently returned from Trinidad & Tobago where he plays in the professional league. They also have Quincy Ovid-Richardson, David Dick and Shane De Souza to shore up the batting.
While the team prides its strength in the bowling department, they also have four all-rounders in the squad. On the other hand, while ECC‘s squad looks better on paper it must be remembered that two of the tournament’s top teams MSC and the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) were defeated in the semi-final stage.
ECC has former WI opening batsman Ryan Ramdass and national opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika in the line-up. Middle order batsman Troy Gonsalves, batting all-rounder and captain Abalash Deokie will also be bolstering ECC’s lineup.
In the bowling department they have the experienced Leon Scott, former national under-19 pace bowler and the wily national off-spinner Amir Khan.
Second day action bowls off at 9:00 am today.
ECC’s team reads: Abalash Deokie (captain), Ryan Ramdass, Rajendra Chandrika, Christopher Pattadin, Surendra Hiralal, Troy Gonsalves, Joseph Perry (wk), Chanderpaul Hemraj, Leon Scott, Christopher Surat and Amir Khan.
GNIC: Collis Butts (captain), Dexter Solomon (wk), David Dick, Shane De Souza, Martin Rajmangal, Quincy Ovid-Richardson, Elton Baker, Ranole Browne, Jermaine Moe, Victor Rodriguez and Richard Chaturia.
