Half centuries from Homchand Pooran, Royston Crandon and Rajin Ivan helped Berbice take a 56-run lead in the first innings but a pugnacious unbeaten 69 from Christopher Barnwell ensured that Demerara cleared the deficit to reach 109 without loss on the second day of the GCB four-day inter-county competition.
At the Everest Cricket Club ground, Berbice resumed the day on 29 without loss and eventually reached 304 all out in 72 overs with Pooran making a breezy 80 while Crandon’s (70) and Ivan’s (52) innings were more aggressive.
Demerara, with a lead of 53 in the second innings, raced to that milestone in 19.4 overs with Barnwell treating the sprinkling of spectators to a destructive 69 that included seven fours and two maximums.
Barnwell treated opening bowlers Brandon Bess and Assad Fudadin, who filled in for Esaun Crandon after an old groin injury had sidelined him, with disdain. The same treatment was meted out to the spinners, especially Veerasammy Permaul, whom he hoisted over long on to bring up his 50 from 36 balls.
His not out partner Rajendra Chandrika, who made an even century in the first innings, became a spectator to Barnwell’s destruction as he scored four boundaries in his innings of 36. Permaul was expensive in his 6.4 overs that went for 40 runs.
Earlier Steven Jacobs and Troy Gonsalves finished with three wickets apiece.
Berbice, resuming on their overnight score of 29 without loss, found themselves in a spot of bother when they lost overnight batsman Delbert Hicks for 17 (with no addition to his overnight score) caught behind by Joseph Perry off the bowling of Andre Stoll.
Shortly after Demerara off spinner Steven Jacobs struck twice in the ninth over when he had Arthley Bailey (17) and captain Fudadin (4) caught when the scores were 42 and 41 respectively.
Crandon and Pooran nurtured a partnership with Crandon being the aggressor, especially against the spinners. Crandon chipped Jacobs over mid-on for four and then later in the over lifted him over wide long-on for four while Pooran was content with working the ball around and picking up the singles.
Berbice’s hundred came up in the 22nd over before Crandon lifted left arm orthodox spinner Damian Vantull, in his debut inter-county match, over long on for six to move to 47 and then powerfully drove the same bowler through cover to bring up his half century. He took 74 minutes and stroked six boundaries and two went over the ropes
Pooran joined in when he flicked Vantull through mid on for four. There was some drama when Crandon turned Troy Gonsalves for four and then was dropped the next ball by wicketkeeper Perry on 64. Crandon countered by smashing the next delivery for six over long off.
On the stroke of lunch, however, Crandon was trapped lbw for 70- in the process breaking a fourth wicket stand of 115 with Pooran, who was unbeaten on 41 at the break. Berbice went to lunch on 157-4 from 33 overs.
Upon resumption Pooran brought up his half century with a crisp drive past Jacobs; his 50 comprised six boundaries from 79 balls in 132 minutes. Rajin Ivan hoisted Jacobs straight back over the media centre end for a huge six that landed on Carifesta Avenue.
Ivan took the attack to the bowlers with some aggressive stroke play mixed with some good running with Pooran, who started to show signs of tiring. Ivan duly brought up his half century with a drive through cover for four but shortly after was stumped by Perry off Gonsalves for 52.
With the introduction of Leon Johnson, Pooran lost his wicket when he tentatively pushed forward and was trapped lbw for 80 (8×4) from 140 balls in 222 minutes. Devendra Bishoo was left not out on 23 down the order as Berbice reached 304 all out in 72 overs with a first innings lead of 56 runs.
Scoreboard
Demerara first innings 248
R. Chandrika 100; D. Bishoo 6-74
Berbice innings
D. Hicks c wkp Perry b Stoll 17
A. Bailey c Deosarran b Jacobs 17
A. Fudadin c & b Jacobs 4
H. Pooran lbw Johnson 80
R. Crandon lbw Jacobs 70
R. Latchana run out (Singh) 9
R. Ivan stp Perry b Gonsalves 52
V. Permaul b Gonsalves 0
D. Bishoo not out 23
E. Crandon b Gonsalves 10
B. Bess c Chandrika b Mohammed 9
Extras: (lb-6, b-5, nb-2) 13
Total: (all out from 72 overs) 304
FOW: 1-29 (Hicks 6), 2-41 (Fudadin 8.2), 3-42 (Bailey 9), 4-157 (Crandon 33), 5-167 (Latchana 34.4), 6-257 (Ivan 57.1), 7-257 (Permaul 57.3), 8-261 (Pooran 60), 9-293 (E. Crandon 68.3), 10-304 (Bess 72)
Bowling
A. Stoll 10-3-35-1
C. Barnwell 3-0-17-0
S. Jacobs 14-1-56-3
Z. Mohammed 18-1-75-3
D. Vantull 10-3-47-0
T. Gonsalves 14-2-52-3
B. Bess 3-1-11-1
Demerara second innings
C. Barnwell not out 69
R. Chandrika not out 36
Extras: (b-7, lb-5, nb-2) 14
Total: (after 19.4 overs) 109
Bowling
B. Bess 4-0-25-0
A. Fudadin 3-0-15-0
V. Permaul 6.4-0-40-0
R. Crandon 2-0-11-0
D. Bishoo 4-0-16-0
