The President’s XI and Berbice competed for honours on the first day of their senior Inter-County Four-Day fixture at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, with President’s XI edging ahead until Berbice fought back late in the day to bowl them out for 182.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul continued his fine form with another half century in the Guyana Cricket Board tourney, but Berbice made sure that they were still in the game with consistent bowling.
The President’s XI won the toss and chose to bat and were given a solid platform by openers Krishna Arjune and the in-form Chanderpaul. Arjune was the more aggressive of the two as the pair put together 82 and batted through the morning session before Arjune was caught behind off the bowling of Keon Joseph for 49 (59 balls, 6X4, 2X6) just after the break.
His dismissal kick-started a slide which saw two more wickets fall in quick succession. Kevon Boodie was lbw Joseph for four and Jeetendra Sookdeo was bowled without scoring by Clinton Pestano, who also saw Chanderpaul dropped off his bowling later in the day.
The reprieve was enough to allow Chanderpaul to reach another half century off 126 balls with five fours; however, Chanderpaul failed to add to his even 50 when he edged Gudakesh Motie behind with the score on 121. Soon after Motie made two more breakthroughs when he dismissed Eugene La Fleur for 37 (69 balls, 6X4) and Devon Clement (03) as the President’s XI slipped to six for 150.
At 3.16pm the players left the field because of rain. They returned at 4.38pm with batsmen Anthony Bramble (18) and Raj Nannan (3) at the crease. Bramble departed soon after for 22 as Pestano and Motie limited the President’s XI to 182 in 70.4 overs. Motie finished with figures of 18-9-38-3 and Pestano picked up three for 53 while Keon Joseph had two for 37.
Scores
President’s XI 182 all out, 70.4 Overs.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul 50
Krishna Arjune 49
Gudakesh Motie 3 for 38
Clinton Pestano 3 for 53.
