The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) in partnership with Hadi’s World Incorporated will begin the 2012-13 first division two-day competition today with two matches. The competition, which has been sponsored by Nazar Mohamed of the City Mall, will be formally launched during the coming week although the GCA said it will take the opportunity to have two matches played while good weather exists.
In today’s opening game Queensway Cup champions Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) will oppose Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC.) winners of the Carib Beer Cup, the two-day predecessor to this competition.
The clash of the two champion clubs will take place at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda ground.
GCC finished third in the previous two-day first division tournament but a number of their players have given glimpses of greater potential including Robin Bacchus, who scored a double century in the latter stages of the tournament and finished as their leading run getter with 425 runs at an average of 53 while Wasim Haslim and Jeetendra Sookdeo both averaged above 50. Young players Raj Nanan and Winston Forrester proved their worth with Nanan taking 19 wickets while Forrester enjoyed a good season with both bat and ball taking 24 wickets and scoring 292 runs at an average of 41.
Malteenoes Sports Club won four matches on the trot to claim the title on the back of performances from a number of their senior players.
Imran Hassan averaged 48, Steven Jacobs 79 and Deon Ferrier 63 while the bowlers performed well as a unit with Seon Daniels, Danny Narayan, Jacobs and Ferrier picking up a total of 10 three-wicket hauls.
In the other match scheduled for Eve Leary, Police Sports Club will face the Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO).
Troy Benn, who emerged as the leading run scorer for Police last season with 198 runs at an average of 17 will once again lead the Police batting while Rawle Brown managed 159 runs at an at 14. These figures suggest a need for improvement especially in the batting department if Police are to pose a serious threat for the title. In the bowling department, Pernell London and Vishal Jaigobin were most successful bowlers with 10 and 11 wickets respectively.
For GYO, this tournament presents good opportunities for developing players such as Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Brian Sattaur, Shivanand Roopnarine and Ryan Shun and for seamers Garfield DeRoach and Wayne Walker.
In this tournament the regulations concerning walkovers and conceding matches are expected to be rigidly enforced with teams required to have at least seven players present at the venue for the start of play. Matches commence at 9 30 each day.
