Pace and patience were the tools used by the President’s XI team against Essequibo, while Devendra Bishoo’s wizardry gave Berbice the edge against Demerara in the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter-County four-day tournament played yesterday.
Playing at the Bourda cricket ground, left-arm fast bowler Andre Stoll ripped apart a hapless Essequibo with figures of 10 overs, 4 for 34. He was well supported by fellow paceman Seon Daniels who bowled six overs and took 3 for 31. Steven Sankar chipped in with 2 for 11 leaving the tourists 104 all-out in 33.3 overs. All-rounder Kemo Paul was the highest run-scorer with 22.
In reply, President’s XI skipper Vishal “Cheesy” Singh continued his remarkable form yesterday, scoring another half-century, his second of the tournament, following a century on Sunday against Berbice. Singh manufactured a workman-like 52 from 162 balls with no boundaries or sixes. He was involved in an even century partnership stand with former Test batsman Ryan Ramdass who struck six fours in his 59 off 92 balls. At stumps on day one, President’s XI were 121 for 4 leading by 17, with Singh still holding his end and all-rounder Shaquille Williams on one.
Dillon Heyliger (1-34), Paul (1-12) and skipper Anthony Adams (2-28), were the wicket-takers for Essequibo. Earlier, Singh won the toss and chose to field, letting loose his fast-bowlers on the opposition and leaving them reeling at 80 for 6 at the lunch break. A few more strikes and it was all over for the Essequibo boys who once again collapsed dramatically in their innings.
Opener Kevon Boodie (18) and Parmesh Parsotam (19), joined Paul as the only players to score double figures. However during their bowling innings, Essequibo managed to make two early breakthroughs by removing Robin Bacchus off the first ball and Dominic Rikhi (0) shortly after.
But with the score 2-2, Singh and Ramdass settled in and began to milk the opposition bowlers. As expected, Ramdass was the more aggressive of the two, while Singh continued to frustrate the bowlers. After Ramdass’s dismissal, Seon Hetmyer (7) was trapped LBW by Adams, leaving Williams and his skipper unbeaten at the expiration of the overs.
Over at the Enmore Community Centre ground the ex-West Indies leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo bamboozled the defending champions Demerara picking up 6 for 50, giving Berbice the edge after bowling out their opponents for 161 on the first day, despite Captain Leon Johnson’s 38. Pacer Keon Joseph grabbed 3 for 53.
At the end of first day’s play Berbice were three down for 73 facing a deficit of 88 runs. Centurions from the last match Royston Crandon (12) and batsman Krisendatt Ramoo (0) will resume the innings today.
Earlier, Johnson was involved in a third-wicket partnership of 51 with Ramnaresh Sarwan, who played well for his 28 before he fell victim to the burly fast-bowler Johnson.
Vice-captain Christopher Barnwell (32) then added 41 for the fourth-wicket with his skipper before he was sent packing by Joseph, who had already accounted for the openers.
At lunch the champs were in a bit of trouble with four down for 115. Upon resumption of play Bishoo snapped up the final six-wickets with some ease. Chasing a decent first innings total, opening batsmen Sewnarine Chattergoon (26) and Kandasammy Surujnarine (31) added 58 for the first wicket before spin twins Zaheer Mohamed and Amir Khan struck.
West Indies “A’ batsman Assad Fudadin scored a painstaking 3 off 45 balls before all-rounder Steven Jacobs did away with him.
Action continues today at 9.30am at both venues.
