By Neil Barry
The David Persaud Investments Cup Under 19 semi-finals will be played today at the Malteenoes Sports Club and the Georgetown Cricket Club grounds.
At Thomas Lands, Malteeonoes Sports Club will oppose Demerara Cricket Club `A’ while GCC will play
Demerara Cricket Club B at Bourda.
Both games will commence at 9.30am.
Coach Garvin Nedd’s DCC `A’ and `B’ teams have dominated the Under-13 and 15 tournaments and look set to continue that dominance in this competition where wins today will see them playing each other in the final.
Earning a spot in the final, however, will not be an easy task as the `A’ team will have to get over an in-form Malteenoes side which scored over 400 runs in their last league match.
MSC captain Shaquille Williams already has two centuries in the competition while Nichosie Barker has scored two half centuries and an imperious 170, the tournament’s highest score thus far.
Seam bowler Kareem Naughton and leg-spinner Steven Sankar, as well as Williams, are among the tournament’s leading wicket takers while Vishal Narayan has contributed well with both bat and ball.
DCC will look to the Rupee brothers Sunil and Khemraj for runs up the order while first-division centurion Omesh Dhanram will also be one of their key batsmen.
A close game can be expected at Bourda where DCC `B’ takes on GCC. With home advantage, GCC will look to exploit the conditions. Bernard Bailey has been their leading bowler while Devon Lord and Almando Doman have been keeping the lid on teams’ scoring during the middle overs with their left-arm orthodox and off-spin bowling respectively. GCC’s bowlers have also made decent contributions with the bat while wicket-keeper Martin Pestano Bell has been competent behind the stumps.
Their progression to the final was a decent team effort as players stepped up throughout the tournament. Wicket keeper batsman Kemal Savoury has kept well behind the wicket and provided his team with solid starts in front of it with his opening partner Rajiv Balgobin. Under 15 bowlers Deron Crandon and Carlton Jacques will look to give support to Cavell Reece who has a five-wicket haul in the competition.
The organizers have set the final for the home ground of the late David Persaud, Everest, on September 9 from 9.30am.
