By Neil Barry
The Carib Beer and Friends of Cricket Heroes Cup competition is set to resume on Saturday in Georgetown with three matches after the prolonged rainy season stalled the competition, which is nearing its completion.
Barring the intervention of the weather, cricket is finally set to return to the Malteenoes Sports Club ground which has been out of order due to remedial work since Abilash Dookie scored a century in a T20 game for Everest there almost two years ago.
Founded in 1902 by Barbadian Ferdinand Christopher Archer as a cheaper alternative venue for persons to participate in recreational activities, Malteenoes was initially located at Eve Leary on Camp Street, Georgetown. With the militarisation of Eve Leary during the Second World War, the ground was absorbed into the military zone and Malteenoes relocated to its present location. The club has had a history of problems with the ground which has led to prolonged absence of competitive cricket being played there. This year’s rainy season has delayed the reintroduction of the ground to the cricket circle.
However, this weekend Malteenoes hosts GNIC as the two sides tussle for a place in the play off stage of the competition. In Malteenoes’ most recent game, they pulled off a victory in fading light over a strong DCC team.
Over at Camp Ayanganna, the Guyana Defence Force will face the improving Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) team, which has shown progress in both their youth and senior teams.
Their senior team has been boosted by the services of Dookie and Leon Scott, both formerly of the Everest Cricket Club. The impressive GDF line up will feature the likes of Shemroy Barrington, Travis Blyden and Jeremiah Harris.In their last game they defeated Transport Sports club quite easily.
At Everest, Camp Road, another chapter is set to be added to an ensuing rivalry as the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) plays Everest Cricket Club.
Both sides possess players with national experience but GCC has been boosted by the rise of youth cricketer Winston Forrester, who has been somewhat the unsung ‘hero’ in the tournament.
Forrester has taken some 16 wickets and scored 271 runs at an average of 54 so far in the tournament. Everest will look to the youth of their newest national players Amir Khan and Chanderpaul Hemraj as they look to ensure a spot in the play off stage of the Heroes Cup.
