Police Sports Club produced their most dominant performance of the tournament to march their way into the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Noble House Seafood’s division two, two-day competition last weekend while the young Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) side produced a tactical rearguard effort that effectively blocked the Guyana National Industrial Corporation from reaching their second straight final.
At the Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) ground, Police won the toss against the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and batted first making 390 for 8 in 71 overs.
Randolph Knights hit an aggressive 111 on day one with seven fours and seven sixes while Pernell London struck 81 with 13 fours and a six. Sheldon Agard hit 73 with 11 fours and Troy Benn hit eight fours in 65 as the batsmen prospered on the small venue.
Bowling for the GDF Nakeitho Nestor took 4-77 from 13.3 overs and Paul Castello, 3-115.
GDF replied with 180 for 8 innings closed after 38 overs as two listed players failed to turn up. Their only scores of note were 48 from Jeremiah Harris and Castello’s 33.
Kelvin Leitch took 4-62 from 14 overs and Fitzroy Cully 3-18 for Police, who were content with winning first innings points.
Police’s batsmen enjoyed decent batting practice as they reached 149 for 4 in 27 overs. Culley top scored with 56, which included nine fours and two sixes, while Ameer Mohamed made 50 not out with six fours. Randy Lindore collected 2-38 for GDF. Umpires Cyril Garnath and Delvin Austin agreed to call off the match at 4 pm, handing Police their first spot in a major final in 2013.
Playing in the luxury of home conditions, GNIC won the toss and batted first, scoring a breezy 258 in 49 overs. Marc Nicholson scored 113 from 85 balls and Ranole Bourne 77 from 91 balls.
The left-handed Nicholson struck 19 fours and two sixes while right hander Bourne struck two fours and one six. Under-19 left arm spinner Devon Lord grabbed 5 for 52 while Kevin Plants took 2 for 38.
GCC showcased their ability to bat for long periods of time as they successfully batted the remainder of the match to post 407 in 94 overs, and secure their place in the final. Treon Forde top scored with a brisk 91 from 111 balls while Lord batted 137 balls for 69 and number 11 batsman Plants made 56 not out from 64 balls. The last pair of Plants and Samuel McKenzie, who remained not out on 27, compiled an unbroken 83 for the last wicket. Pacer Rawle Merell took 3 for 73 and off spinner Premchand Sookdeo took 2 for 87.
