By Neil Barry Jr.,
The Third edition of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Noble House Seafood’s second division competition got off to an exciting start last weekend with outright wins for Third Class, Muslim Youth Organisation and Everest Cricket Clubs.
In the four scheduled matches which were played Saturday and Sunday, Third Class whipped GNIC in their backyard; the Muslim Youth Organization earned a come-from-behind upset win over Malteenoes Sports Club while
Everest Cricket Club won handsomely against Vikings at YMCA.
In the match of the arch rivals, Demerara Cricket Club earned bragging rights over the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) through first innings honours in their drawn encounter.
At Thomas Lands, MYO completed a six-wicket victory after being led on first innings.
Malteenoes, batting first made 161 all out and then restricted MYO to 159 with Antonel Atwell taking 6-49.
With a two run lead, Malteenoes in their second innings fell for 194 in 40.3 overs with Delvon McEwan, 37, Denzel Alleyne, 35, Vishal Narayan, 33, Jamal Naughton, 25 not out and Shaquille Williams, 22, the principal scorers.
Imtiaz Pooran took 3-20, Parshram Paramanan, 2-10 and Mohamed Wazad Ali 2-39.
Chasing 196 for victory, Shaheed Gittens scored an unbeaten 78 which included 12 fours. He was supported by Richard Latiff who hit three sixes and three fours in 34, Mohammed Wazad Ali, 30, and A. Wazid Ali, 27 as MYO reached their target in 31.2 overs for the loss of only four wickets.
Narayan, 2-33, Naughton, 2-35 and Shaquille Williams 1-38 were the wicket takers.
At GNIC, Third Class defeated GNIC by three wickets.
GNIC, batting first, made 222 for 9 with Jason Melville’s 92 the top score.
Third Class, in their first innings, replied with 229 all out with the number 10 batsman Andre O’Neal scoring an unbeaten 47 to ensure his team won on first innings. Also among the runs were Randy Ramroop, 37, Trevor Hussein, 33 and Alvin Castello 20.
Orlando Kirton took 4-74 and Royston Simon 3-32 bowling for GNIC.
Playing with only 10 men, GNIC team scored 161 for 9 in their second innings with Marc Nicholson, 49, Jevin Collins, 30 and Jason George 22, the principal scorers.
Bowling for Third Class Ray Bryan took 5-52 and Castello 3-78.
Chasing 151 for victory, Third Class was led to their eventual total by opener Castello who ended on 101 not out. With him was O’Neal on 18 not out as Third Class reached 151-3.
The wickets were taken by Orlando Kirten, Lachman Bissessar and Jason George.
At YMCA, Everest defeated Vikings by an innings and 75 runs.
Everest batting first declared their first innings on 303 for 8 at close of the first day with skipper Khemraj Ramdeen hitting 107 and Riyad Sattaur 62.
Vikings, in reply, were dismissed for 124 in 35.5 overs with A. Persaud top scoring with 32.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Javed Rasheed picked up 7-24 and off-spinner Raphael Singh 2-10. Vikings following on fell for 114 in 23.2 overs. Damian Ross top scored with 33 while Deon Thomas picked up 5-8 and Sattaur 3-12.
At the Gandhi Youth Organization ground (GYO) GCC, batting first, fell for 142 with Clint Grant capturing a five wicket haul.
DCC, who resumed on 148 for 5 on Sunday were dismissed for 190.
Lawrence Smith made 66 and Xaviee Smith 60 while Shamar Graham took 3-22, Samuel McKenzie 2-21 and Devon Lord 2-27.
GCC declared their second innings on 212 for 9 with Almando Doman, 61, Manny Forde 41 and Devon Lord 40.
DCC ended on 73 for 5 in 22 overs with Xaviee Smith not out on 13 at the close. Clitus Johnson and Kemol Savory were both dismissed for 17. Graham took 2-6, Lord 2-20 while Bernard Bailey took the other wicket.
The competition continues this weekend with matches in both zones A and B.
