The national under-17 team defeated a national under-15 team by seven wickets yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground in their only practice match before departure on Sunday to compete in the Regional U-17 Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
Set 107 to claim victory, the under-17 team reached the target in 21 out of a maximum of 25 overs. Raymond Perez (39) and Ronaldo Renee (19) continued from where they left off in the inter-county tournament, where they partnered for a century and a half century in two games, by setting another good opening partnership.
The pair added 45 runs for the first wicket. Adrian Sukwah who batted at number four saw his team home with an unbeaten 23 while Sherfane Rutherford (14) who continues to throw his wicket away after getting starts was the other batsman to reach double figures. Bowling for the under-15 team, spinners Sagar Hathiramani and Ashmead Nedd took a wicket each.
Earlier, when play finally got underway after a delay due to early morning rain, the under-15 team batted first and were 106-8 when the overs expired. Kurt Lovell top scored with 31 while Joshua Persaud and Ashmead Nedd supported with 19 and 21 respectively. Left arm orthodox spinner Akini Adams and medium pacer Timothy McAlmont finished as the chief wicket takers with two scalps each. Travis Persaud, captain of the under-17 team said he was pleased with his team’s performance and believes if they continue to play responsible cricket, they can be victorious in the upcoming regional tournament. “I’m getting the support from the players and it is vivid that the confidence level in the squad is high,” he added.
The squad continues its preparation tomorrow with an indoor practice session at the Guyana Cricket Board’s La Bonne Intention facility.
