By Marlon Munroe
A sparkling unbeaten 150 by Everest Cricket Club’s (ECC) opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika catapulted ECC past Guyana National Industrial Corporation’s (GNIC) first innings score of 137 at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) on the second day in the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association/Cellink Plus three-day competition.
When bad light stopped play at 17:28 hours yesterday ECC had already reached 235-4 for a lead of 98 runs with Troy Gonsalves the other undefeated batsman on 29. Earlier, former under-19 pacer Leon Scott delivered on his promise to take 5-63 from 10.5 overs.
Subsequently, Chandrika, a former West Indies under19 player, batting like a man possessed, and former West Indies batsman Ryan Ramdass got ECC off to a flyer with Chandrika being the headliner of that partnership and more particularly the day’s proceedings. The stylish right hander stroked each ball with authority in his chanceless innings.
He lost Ramdass who was caught at mid off attempting a drive by Martin Rajmangal off the bowling of Richard Chaturia for 14 (36.1) in the 12th over.
Christopher Pattadin did not last long at the wicket. He was caught at point for two off the bowling of Elton Baker in the following over (42-2). A 54-run partnership with Abilash Deokie (17) followed but Dookie’s contribution paled into insignificance as Chandreka punished all and sundry.
He brought up his half century, that included seven boundaries, when he hoisted Ken Alphonso straight back over his head for six as ECC went to tea at 89-2. On resumption, the free-scoring continued as the GNIC bowling attack looked suspect without the services of veteran off-spinner Clyde Butts who is in South Africa with the WI team for the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament.
Deokie’s vigil ended when the score was 96 when he was caught by GNIC captain Collis Butts in the 30th over off the bowling of Ranole Bourne. Another meaningful partnership of 40 ensued with Surendra Hiralal before he was brilliantly caught by Butts at first slip of the bowling of medium pacer Chatura for 17 off the fourth ball of the 40th over.
At the end of the 40th over ECC levelled the scores and shortly after Chandrika brought up his hundred off an overthrow from 135 balls and 186 minutes. The knock included 10 fours and two sixes. Gonsalves started looking ominous as the two upped the run rate and not long after Chandrika brought up his 150 from 199 balls in 226 minutes with 16 sweetly timed boundaries and two audacious sixes while Gonsalves knock included one maximum.
Chatura took two wickets while Baker and Bourne had one wicket apiece.
After winning the toss earlier, GNIC lost wickets at regular intervals as their batsmen struggled to put together partnerships to threaten the offense of ECC. Baker at the top of the order scored 22 while his opening partner scored 14.
GNIC’s next highest run scorers came at the bottom of the order with Chaturia scoring 23, Butts 22 and David Dick 16. Extras accounted for 21 in the final total and GNIC were bowled out in their 37th over at 13:27 hours.
Deokie snared two wickets and Javed Rasheed took one wicket as some wayward running accounted for three run outs before the end of GNIC’s innings.
The match is scheduled to finish today and there must be an outright win for a team to be called the champions. Otherwise both teams will share the title.
