By Delvon Mc Ewan
The clash between the National Under-19 team and Berbice senior team is set to be a keen contest as the two teams open their Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter-County Limited Overs campaign today at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
It will be the first time an under-19 team will feature at the senior inter-county level and the “rookie” youth team will have much to play for against the weakened unit from the Ancient County.
Brian Sattaur will be leading the U-19 team unto the field when play begins 9:30a.m. While discarded West Indies player Narsingh Deonarine will be at the helm for the Berbice side.
Sattaur along with prolific batsmen Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shimron Hetmyer are expected to lead the U-19 batting, which was outstanding at the recently concluded West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). They will fill the top three slots in the batting order while the exciting Kemo Paul and Ashkay Homraj is expected to bat in the middle. The remainder of the team’s batting will feature Balchand Baldeo, Sharaz Ramcharan, Kemol Savory and Renaldo Ali-Mohamed.
In the bowling department leading wicket takers at the WICB U-19 2014 tournament Steven Sankar and Sharaz Ramcharran will have to be more consistent in their accuracy to emulate their recent feat while the hostile Paul will probably start the new ball with spinner Baldeo, who was very economical for the national youth team recently.
Berbice will play the tournament without consistent batsman Assad Fudadin and leg spinner Devendra Bishoo, who along with Essequibo’s pacer Ronsford Beaton and Demerara’s Leon Johnson are encamped with the West Indies “A” team as they prepare to tour Sri Lanka.
However, Deonarine is expected to spearhead a batting department comprising first class wicket keeper/batsman Anthony Bramble, List ‘A’batsmen Jonathan Foo and Rajiv Ivan, and the experience Devon Clements. Meanwhile their bowling will be led by left arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul. In the spinners department, Permaul will be supported by left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, off spinner Krishendat Ramoo while pace attack comprises of Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson and all-rounder Romario Shepherd.
Though Berbice are favourites to win the anticipated match, the under-19 can create an upset once they play a good game of cricket.
The two teams read; Guyana Under-19; Brian Sattaur (captain), Sharaz Ramcharran (vice-captain), Balchand Baldeo, Daniel Basdeo, Tagenarine Chandrapaul, Shimron Hetmyer, Askay Homray, Keon Morris, Kemo Paul, Steven Sankar, Kemol Savory, Nial Smith, Damion Waldron,Renaldo Ali-Mohamed and Akel Wallace.
Berbice team; Narsingh Deonarine (captain), Veerasammy Permaul (vice-captain), Devon Clements, Jonathan Foo, Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, Anthony Bramble, Jason Sinclair, Romario Shepherd, Krishendat Ramoo, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Seon Hetmyer, Rajiv Ivan, Keon Joseph and Raun Johnson.
