-B/ce skipper blasts double century to put team in the driver’s seat
By Marlon Munroe
Berbice captain Assad Fudadin smashed a belligerent double century as the lethargic Essequibians continued to be unequivocally outclassed on the second day of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter-County four-day tournament at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground yesterday.
Fudadin, from his overnight score of 48, reached 208 out of Berbice’s first innings score of 553-8 from 91 overs.
He got great support from opener Arthley Bailey (79), number six batsman Ranga Latchana (85) and wicketkeeper and number eight batsman Anthony Bramble (54 not out).
The Berbicians, with a lead of 448 runs, have two days to dismisss their opponents for an outright win.
Essequibo made 105 in their first innings.
The only spark in Essequibo’s dismal display was left-arm spinner Anthony Adams who took 5-109 from 31 overs.
However, his performance was overshadowed briefly when standing umpires Nigel Duguid and Daverteeth Anandjit walked off the field during the last stipulated water break to protest the unavailability of water for their consumption on the hot day.
Fudadin told Stabroek Sport he was elated with his performance adding that he was confident that his bowlers will get the job done today.
He said that he wanted his batsmen to occupy the crease ahead of their upcoming showdown with Demerara from November 17 at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
Berbice resumed on 128-1 and Fudadin (48) and Bailey (43) were positive.
Fudadin hit Trevor Benn for successive boundaries to bring up his half century from 43 balls in the second over of the day. He took some liking to the pacer when he punched him back over his head for six.
Bailey continued to work the ball around before he chipped Benn over mid on for two to bring up his half century from 108 balls. However, the show belonged to Fudadin as he cut and drove the Essequibo bowlers with relative ease and utmost frequency.
Bailey also showed some class stroking some well-timed boundaries including three sixes during the morning session. His captain brought up his first century of the tournament when he drove Delon Heyliger through the extra cover region for four. It came from as many balls and included 14 fours and three sixes from 175 minutes.
After facing 146 balls Bailey attempted a cut and was caught at cover by Heyliger off Adams for 79.
His dismissal ended a 196-run second wicket stand with Fudadin and at lunch, Berbice were 256-3 from 63 overs with Fudadin undefeated on a chanceless 120 from 132 balls.
Upon resumption, the Essequibians waited for something to happen but all they saw was the class of Fudadin who raced to 150.
The new ball was taken with the score 336-3 and Fudadin on 171 but pacers Benn and Garraway made no inroads on the slow pitch that offered some variant bounce and Fudadin and Latchana merrily added 122 as Berbice went in to tea at 377-3 from 80 overs.
Fudadin was on 189 and Latchana on 32.
Latchana reached his 50 shortly after the game resumed with a drive through the covers for two. He struck seven boundaries.
But the stroke of the day belonged to Fudadin whose pull shot to the square leg boundary off Garraway to bring up his 200 wowed the spectators.
Twenty-six fours along with four sixes embroidered the knock up to that point and shortly after, Fudadin’s innings ended when he held out to Ramesh Narine on the long off boundary.
His departure ended an equally progressive 175-run partnership with Latchana who then took over hoisting off spinner Royston Alkins over midwicket and then cutting the next ball to the third man boundary. He also dissected two fielders in the cover region as nothing seemed to go right for Essequibo.
They eventually removed Latchana for 85 decorated with 10 fours and a six. Two quick wickets fell but proceedings went back the way they were when Bramble and Permaul joined the party.
Permaul made a quick-fire 21 down the order batting at number nine but when bad light stopped play at 17:23 Bramble had already blasted an unbeaten 54 with three fours and a six.
