Last weekend’s match of the Noble House Seafood’s second division, two-day cricket competition between the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) turned out to be keenly contested so much so that in the final over of the second day’s play all three results were still possible.
The match played at the Muslim Youth Organisation ground eventually ended in a draw.
After both teams scored 123 in their first innings, GCC were set a target of 199 in 38 overs. However, late wickets curtailed their chase as they ended seven runs shy of that total with just one wicket in hand.
GDF batted first fell for 123 in 29 overs.
Francis Mendonca top scored with 46 while left-arm spinner Devon Lord claimed 4-40.
He received support from Kevin Plants (2-15) and Cleon Critchlow (2-25).GCC also fell for 123 although the batted some 42 overs on Saturday. Lord contributed 30 while Paul Castello claimed 5-39 and Roger Aarons 4-21.
GDF fared better in their second innings as scored 198 in 54 overs. Marcus Watkins scored 64, Isaiah Brijaddar 36, and Damion Ross 23. Bowling for GCC, Plants claimed 3-32, Gavin Singh 2-28 and Forde 2-35.
GCC fought gamely before a crucial partnership between Martin Pestano-Belle and Gavin Singh ended with Pestano-Belle being run out. Singh shepherded the chase with 82 before he was well taken at long on off the persistent bowling of Castello, while Pestano-Belle contributed an important 52. With Castello picking up timely late wickets, GCC’s Bernard Bailey was left to play out the day’s last over from Castello which started with GCC requiring 11 runs for victory with one wicket in hand. Despite hitting the first ball for a boundary through mid wicket, Bailey safely defended the next five deliveries to secure the draw for GCC. Castello picked up 6-56 in the second innings and received support from Andre McFarlane who took 2-39 as GCC finished on 192/9 in 38 overs. The competition is expected to continue next weekend.
