Demerara and the President’s XI U19 cricket teams were yesterday in control on day two of the their matches against Berbice and Essequibo respectively as the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-County three-day tournament continued.
Over at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground Bourda, Demerara, who resumed on 70-2 in reply to the Berbice first innings score of 140, were eventually bowled out for 194 in 89.1 overs thanks to a resolute 109-ball 56 from wicket-keeper Kemol Savory.
Disciplined bowling performances from skipper Sharaz Ramcharran (3-37), Parmanand Ramdhan (3-33), Grisean Grant (2-36) and David Latchaya (1-16), saw the Ber bicians tear through the Demerara batting lineup although the city team still managed to gain a slim 54-run lead.
Demerara at one point were nicely placed on 94 for two with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (32) and Rudolph Singh (14) looking to add to their respective overnight scores of 18 and 1 respectively, but squandered their stronghold and were reduced to 153-8 at lunch.
After the demise of the two openers, all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford (16), Malcolm Hubbard (4), Steven Sankar (0) and Keon Morris (1), were soon back in the dressing room. Upon resumption after lunch, Savory, who carved seven fours, added 23 for the ninth-wicket with Daniel Basdeo (9) along with a last wicket partnership of 34 with Kevin Paul (4).
Berbice in their second innings were 103-3 at stumps with a second innings lead of 49 runs, with the unbeaten pair of Viendra Gooniah, who was dropped twice unbeaten on 37 and David Latchaya on 26.
The two batsmen are currently involved in a gritty fourth wicket partnership of 48 runs heading into the third and final day.
Earlier, openers Shimron Hetmyer (4) and Balchand Baldeo (26) along with Ramcharran (7), were the wickets to fall for Berbice.
Over at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Essequibo resuming on nine without loss from three overs, went on to rack up a courageous 234 all out in 58 overs compliments of a defiant 99-ball 85 from Avinash Persaud which featured 13 fours and a pair of sixes. Travis Drakes (28) and Ryan Adams (21) were the other significant scorers. Paul Williams (18), Ricardo Peters (18), Paul Simboo (17) and Keno Harry (10) were the other batsmen to reach double figures.
The President’s XI Ryan Shun who scored a classy half-century in the first innings was the pick of the bowlers with 3-18 while support came from Ershad Ali (2-29), Travis Persaud (2-36), Vivian Albert (2-39) and Daniel Lewis (1-53).
At stumps, President’s X1 was 112-6 in their second innings for an overall lead of 210-runs with Vivian Albert (4) and Shivnarine Srikissoon (6) set to continue proceedings on today’s final day.
Opener Sunil Singh, who top scored with 53 after being dropped approximately six times, struck seven fours and two maximums. Persaud (15),returned with the bat to be the only other player to reach double figures after Akil Wallace (2-45), Keno Harry (2-11), Kemo Paul (1-27) and Akini Adams (1-17) wreaked havoc with the red ball.
Play will resume today at GCC at 09:30h, while the game at DCC will get under way at 10:00h.
