By Neil Barry
Steven Jacobs smashed a century and claimed four wickets to put Malteenoes in the driver’s seat against the Guyana National Industrial Corporation at the close of the first day’s play of their Heroes Cup match at Thomas Lands yesterday.
GNIC batted first on a Thomas Lands ground which underwent massive rehabilitation to facilitate better drainage and on a pitch which the first game of competitive cricket was only played a few days earlier.
They were probably fancying making a 300 plus score which was posted by the Malteenoes Under-19 team, but instead were rolled over for 85 as Jacobs collected 4 for 6 while Seon Daniels and Deon Ferrier each collected two wickets. Malteenoes ended the day in a commanding position on 9 for 305, with Jacobs scoring 152, Imran Hassan 49 and Kwame Crosse, 26. So far GNIC’s Leroy Bristol has taken four wickets.
Winston Forrester and Robin Bacchus put on a match winning 121-run opening partnership to virtually seal victory for the Georgetown Cricket Club over Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) in their opening match of the New Building Society limited overs competition.
Early morning showers reduced the match to a 20-overs-a-side affair and GYO won the toss and inserted GCC to take first strike, with GCC piling on 5 for 172. Forrester top scored with 72 from just 48 balls and he struck seven four while Bacchus scored 55 from 45 balls with five fours and a six. Bowling for GYO, Pravindralall Persaud collected 3 for 29 from four overs and Garfield DeRoach 1 for 20. In reply GYO were bowled out for 90 to lose the game by 82 runs, with Anthony Ifill making the top score of 19. Left arm spinner Devon Lord took 3 for 16 from his four overs while Almando Doman took 2 for 7 from 3.2 economical overs and Tariq Dharamlall 2 for 15 from four.
Transport Sports Club went down to the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in Queenstown by 91 runs in another game reduced to 20 overs per side. Transport won the toss and sent the home side in to bat, and the home side prospered, this time scoring 173 in their 20 overs, with Tevin Imlach scoring 45 not out and Jahron Byron 37. Bowling for Transport Azim Azeez took 3 for 24 and Joshua Ram 2 for 21. Transport in reply were dismissed for just 82 in 17.2 overs, as leading wicket taker in the two-day competition Dennis Squires began this tournament with 3 for 5. Orlando Sturge took 2 for 15 and Linden Lyght 3 for 13. Sunil Singh top scored for Transport with 17.
The Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) lost to Police Sports Club in a match reduced to 33 overs per side. MYO batted first and scored 178 all out in 23.1 overs. Shaeed Gittens scored 68 with four sixes and two fours, while Police’s Leon Crawford grabbed 5 for 41 from seven overs. In response Police scored 3 for 179, as Stephon Black scored 50 while Ryan Rajmangal made the top score of 69.
Third Class easily disposed of GNIC at GNIC in a 30 overs per side match. Third Class took first strike and piled on 8 for 217, with Alvin Castello getting 52 and Clint Jones 51. Bowling for GNIC, Leroy George took 2 for 29 and Lachman Bissessar 2 for 43. GNIC, playing with just nine men, limped to 8 for 73 innings closed to grant Third Class victory by a whopping 144 runs. Trevor Hussein took 5 for 36 from six overs while Ray Brian had 2 for 36.
