Colossal centuries from Demerara skipper Vishaul Singh and Rajendra Chandrika steered their side to a formidable 320 for 3 on day one of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-county 4-day tournament played at the Bourda Cricket Ground yesterday.
The solid left-handed captain who batted for some 348 minutes, cracked 16 elegant fours in his top knock of 153 off 248 balls, an innings filled with concentration and maturity. He shared a mammoth 300-run partnership with Rajendra Chandrika, who weighed in with an unbeaten 138 matching his skipper with 16 identical fours. Demerara later closed on their imposing total with the latter and Chris Barnwell unbeaten on 2 heading into the second day.
The Berbice bowlers toiled and clawed their way to make inroads, but their efforts were unrewarding. Pacer Raun Johnson who captured all three wickets for 55 runs was the only penetrative force.
Johnson had a dream start, striking twice in his third over. First, he removed Robin Bacchus (3) who was caught at square-leg off a mistimed hook shot. Bacchus’s fellow opener Trevon Griffith fell a few balls later, caught at the wicket for 12 after playing a lethargic drive to a delivery that rushed him.
However, Singh and Chandrika did exactly what they knew to do in the event of a shaky start. They dug in and out-batted the Berbice bowlers, who found it difficult to shake the pair who raised their hundred partnership.
Another milestone was achieved when Singh brought up his fifty off 93 balls with five boundaries. The right-handed Chandrika got to his 50 with a single; a knock which required 83 deliveries and featured eight eye-catching fours as they took their team to 165 for 2 at the end of 42nd over and the second drinks’ break.
On resumption, Singh, who was dropped by the wicket-keeper Kandasammy Surujnarine on 23 and Anthony Bramble on 27, soon notched up his 152-ball century. This was well accepted by his teammates and spectators at the pavilion and saw the Demerara duo tightening their grip on the bowlers. They eventually raised their 200-run partnership in the 55th over of the match.
The subtle, systematic demolition of the Berbicians continued after the tea break. Chandrika and his captain returned to the middle with their team comfortably placed on 220 for 2 and maintained their dominance over the hapless Ancient County bowlers who were unable to apply any amount of significant pressure on the two Demerara batsmen.
At 279 for 2, Demerara crept closer to a big first innings target. The left and right hand combination continued to maul the entire bowling unit with cheeky singles, twos and mostly effortless boundaries around the ground. The final session of the first day saw Singh, who batted for nearly the entire day, bringing up his 150 and then being bowled by Johnson minutes before the close of play.
Barnwell then walked to the middle with Demerara in the driver’s seat and held his composure as the pair walked off the field after a fruitful day of cricket. The action continues today at 09:30hrs.
