Berbice opening batsman Kandasammy Surujnarine stroked an unbeaten century yesterday which helped deny Demerara what looked like a certain victory on the final day of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-County four-day at the Bourda Cricket Ground.
The stylish opener forged an unbeaten 273-ball 132 with 12 fours and three sixes.
He shared a massive 163-run partnership with Royston Crandon who scored a brisk 88 with eight fours and three sixes, taking their team to 304-5 in 89 overs in their uphill pursuit of 411.
The game ended in a tame draw with Berbice still facing a deficit of 97 runs when both teams agreed on bringing curtains down on the highly competitive match.
Scores in the match Demerara 442 and 186-5 declared; Berbice 218 and 304-5.
All-rounder Zaheer Mohamed was the pick of the bowlers with 2-58, while Chris Barnwell (1-69) and Paul Wintz (1-40) capped off a hard-working bowling performance. Resuming at 33-2, Surujnarine and night watchman Keon Joseph (27) steadied the innings for a crucial 75 minutes on day four in a 64-run partnership for the third wicket.
Wintz spoiled the duo’s fun when he removed the fast-bowler Joseph leaving the score 89-3 but an unflustered Surujnarine carried on his merry way and eventually brought up his half-century from 73 balls, finding the ropes seven times and venturing over it twice. New man Crandon joined Surujnarine as the pair steered their team to a comfortable 128-3 heading into lunch.
The penultimate session of the day saw the two Berbicians upping their tempo as well as the run rate with the former West Indies ODI player Crandon reaching his half-century with a straight-drive for two down the ground which was soon followed by a flurry of boundaries before rain haphazardly stopped play at 13:20hrs with the score 208-3 and Berbice still 203 runs away from an unlikely victory.
Play resumed a few minutes after the interruption and despite the rain clouds still lingering overhead, Surujnarine soon crept into the 90’s while Crandon sought to motor on after being given a life by slip fielder Shemroy Barrington. Crandon had earlier in the match had an altercation with Barrington following an on-field spat which resulted from sledging and bantering.
After some 12 balls stranded on 99, the 20-year-old drove leg-spinner Raj Nannan crisply through the covers to bring up his century of 195 balls as his team crept closer to a possible victory. Crandon was given another life on 80 when substitute fielder Randy Knights spilled a catch at deep-long on. TO add insult to injury Crandon duly smashed a delivery from the same bowler Mohammed for six.
However, his luck ran out the following ball when he was caught by Singh inside the 30 yard circle. After a painstaking passage of play Johnathan Foo (9) was removed by Mohamed while Surujnarine continued to play his game.
Anthony Bramble, who made a first innings half-century looked once again looked positive from the get go as the match petered to the inevitable draw.
During Demerara’s first innings Rajendra Chandrika (219) and skipper Vishaul Singh (153) steered their side to a mammoth 442 to which Berbice replied with 218 all out in their first innings. Demerara’s second innings saw Trevon Griffith scoring an unbeaten 102 taking Demerara to 186-5 declared before Surujnarine and Crandon set out on their mission to take Berbice to a draw or a possible victory. The second rounds commences on Wednesday.
