By Delvon Mc Ewan
Demerara recorded an emphatic victory on the back of Sherfane Rutherford’s composed half century to claim the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-17 limited overs title after they defeated Berbice by 139 runs Saturday at the Everest Cricket Club Ground.
Rutherford, who took to the crease with Demerara in a stable position at 76-1, made a responsible 94 to help his team score 253-8 off 40 overs in their rain affected game.
He was partnered by skipper Travis Persaud in a fourth-wicket partnership of 103 runs from 79 deliveries. The two joined forces after Ramnarine Chatura was removed for 15 and the score on 130-3 and began building the partnership by picking up singles and finding the boundary off the wayward deliveries.
Rutherford, who looked solid from the first ball he faced which he on drove to mid-on, brought up his half century off 56 deliveries with a sneaky single to the right of short cover off the bowling of Kevin Sinclair. Once he reached his half century, Demerara’s innings accelerated with Rutherford hitting two huge sixes over long on and deep mid-wicket in the next two overs which followed.
Persaud complemented Rutherford by rotating the strike before their partnership ended in the latter overs of their team’s innings.
Once the partnership was broken, Demerara lost four more wickets quickly.
Berbice captain Brandon Prashad ended with 4-49 from six overs and Deon Sinclair 2-35 in five overs.
Rutherford, whose innings came off 77 balls and included six fours and three sixes, was supported by openers Raymond Perez (38) and Ronaldo Renee (33) who set Demerara’s platform with an opening stand of 76 and Persaud who made 30 from 41 deliveries.
In their turn at the crease, Berbice, were off to a good start as openers Adrian Sukwah (17) and Ritesh Omroa (18) added 33 in seven overs. However, when their partnership was broken, the team’s scoring rate descended never to ascend again as the visitors were restricted to 114-5 in their 40 overs. Prashad top scored with 34 (3×4) from 65 deliveries while Richie Looknauth was Demerara’s best bowler with 3-18 from his eight overs.
Looknauth received support from Persaud and Malcolm Hubbard who took a wicket each to help Demerara win the title comfortably.
The win gave Demerara a clean-weep of the GCB’s junior crowns as they also won the under-15 and under-19 titles earlier this year.
An overjoyed Garvin `Tibbsy’ Nedd, coach of all three of the victorious Demerara junior teams in an invited comment with Stabroek Sports said the clean-sweep was mainly because the players responded well to game strategies. He also complimented the coaching and management staffs throughout these tournament for their active involvement and responsibilities to get tasks completed.
The GCB selectors also named 26 players to commence trials from 9:30 am tomorrow at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground. All Berbice and Essequibo players who are included are asked to report to the GCB hostel at La Bonne Intention this afternoon.
The list of 26 includes: Ronaldo Renee, Raymond Perez, Adrian Sukwah, Travis Persaud, Brandon Prashad, Richie Looknauth, Akini Adams, Deon Sinclair, Ershad Alli, Malcolm Hubbard, Sherfane Rutherford, Kelvin Shewpersaud, Ramnarine Chutura, Timothy Mc Almont, Sylus Tyndall, Kevin Matinborough, Renaldo Mohamed, Kemo Paul, Ritesh Omroa, Judell Mc Allister, Mathew Hardyal, Vivikanand Jagtit, Daniel Samaroo, Joel Seetram, Ewart Samuel and Samuel Mckenzie.
