Days after retaining the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-County three-day title Demerara, led by a fluent unbeaten half-century from opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul lifted the limited-overs trophy after a comprehensive six-wicket win over the President’s XI yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground, Bourda.
The 18-year-old, who was adjudicated Man-of-the-Match for his efforts, batted through the entire innings for his match-winning 78 which featured six boundaries and required 154-balls. He found minimal yet much needed support from Ronaldo Renee who scored 28 as the two put on 77 runs for the second-wicket, taking Demerara to 150 for 4 inside 50 overs. Opposition bowlers Damian Waldron, Ghavin Moriah, Vivian Albert, and Ryan Shun picked up a wicket each in their team’s losing cause.
Earlier in the President’s XI innings, opener Sunil Singh stroked four boundaries in an 85-ball 54 which was the foundation for the President’s XI below-par total of 148 which cost them all their wickets in 43 overs. Waldron (23) and skipper Ronaldo Mohamed (23) supported with brief cameos. Demerara spinners Steven Sankar, Malcolm Hubbard, Chanderpaul and Cleon McEwan each ended with two wickets apiece, while Keon Morris finished with 1 for 23. During a dismal exhibition, President’s XI lost opener Shun who was trapped LBW for 1 in the second over by Hubbard.
Singh and Waldron then did the necessary repairs and added a second-wicket stand of 51. However, Waldron was dismissed LBW, followed by Nick Ramsaroop who departed for 1. Mohamed and Singh then motored on adding 40 runs in another repair job for their team who were slowly slipping.
A cluster of wickets saw Mohamed, Singh and Avishkar Sewkarran (7) being removed in a space of 12 balls. Vivian Albert (4), Yenkinie Favoratie (2), Michael Shalin (1) and Matthew Shivtahal (2) were sent packing leaving Ghavin Moriah stranded on 11. During Demerara’s innings they were placed on the back-foot when the dangerous Brian Sattaur (7) was removed in the third over. Chanderpaul was more watchful in his knock as he and Renee clamped down on the bowlers, grinding them in the middle passage of the innings.
Ramnarine Chatura (7), was also watchful during the relatively slow chase before he was caught LBW by Albert, while Rudolph Singh (13) was also removed LBW courtesy of disciplined spin bowling from Waldron. Wicket-Keeper Kemol Savory then joined forces with Chanderpaul as the opener took Demerara across the line with seven balls to spare, courtesy of a few drives and pulls from the West Indies U19 opener.
The selectors will now use performances from the tournaments in order to select the National U19 team. This is expected to be done shortly according to executives.
