Steven Jacobs’ XI defeated Assad Fudadin’s XI by six wickets with a ball to spare in the first simulation match aimed at preparing the Guyana team for the WICB President’s Cup tournament at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground yesterday.
Fudadin’s XI after winning the toss batted first and reached 137-7 from 20 overs with Fudadin top scoring with 40 that was decorated with four boundaries and two maximums. In reply, Jacobs’ XI eased to 138-4 in 19.5 overs with Royston Crandon making an unbeaten 53 that included three fours and two sixes.
Deon Ferrier scored a breezy 49 which had five fours and two sixes while Jonathan Foo made a quickfire 23.
Mahendra Nagamootoo was the pick of the bowlers for Fudadin’s XI with 2-28 from 3.5 overs. West Indies players Travis Dowlin was run out off the first ball of the innings while Sewnarine Chattergoon went in similar fashion for seven.
Earlier, Jacobs bowling off-spin took 3-25 from four overs while pacer Brendon Bess grabbed 2-18 from three overs. Essequibo’s middle order batsman Delon Heyliger supported Fudadin with an aggressive 33 that included three sixes while Shemroy Barrington contributed 22.
This first in a series of simulation match was played to get the players accustomed to match conditions that may face them when they play in the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) Twenty20 Festival on October 23 and 24 and the regional tournament that begins on October 28. There will also be two other matches next week at the same venue on Tuesday and Thursday.