Resurgent tons from Anthony Bramble and Royston Crandon helped guide Berbice to a daunting first innings total of 418 against opponents the GCB Developmental XI in the final round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) 4-day inter-county tournament played yesterday at the Wales ground.
Crandon, the former West Indies ODI player, batted for 151 minutes, scoring a brisk 121 off 128 balls with eight fours and four sixes. He shared a partnership of 217 runs with fellow century maker Bramble who scored a belligerent 160 off 156 balls with 22 fours and one six.
The pair rescued Berbice who were at one time 88-5.
Right-arm off-spinner Sharaz Ramcharran was the pick of the bowlers despite coming in for some stick, ending with figures of 4-126 while Steven Sankar (3-92) and skipper Steven Jacobs (2-57) completed a difficult yet productive spell of bowling.
Batting first the Ancient county side was put under the cosh early after a good start provided by Kandasammy Surujnarine (31) and Seon Hetmyer (40) who added 70 for the first wicket. The introduction of Ramcharran proved to be timely as he accounted for the wickets of the two set openers who were both out caught.
Sankar continued his knack of picking up wickets by removing Devon Clements (1) who was caught by Ramcharran who then remained in the thick of things, landing a devastating blow when he had Captain Narsingh Deonarine caught by Chanderpaul Hemraj. The big-hitting Johnathan Foo (1) was then trapped LBW by Sankar as the two spinners spun a web of deceit around the Berbicians.
At 106 for 5 heading into lunch, Crandon and Bramble appeared cautious as the interval approached but looked like completely different batsmen upon the resumption of play. The pair took a liking towards Sankar who was a bit sloppy while Ramcharran too found himself carted off to the boundary repeatedly as the Berbicians enjoyed a passage of aggressive play.
The 150 came up in the 44th over as the two continued to motor on and Bramble brought up an aggressive half-century. Crandon soon followed registering his 50 as the two completed a century partnership.
The over immediately after the water break saw the two set batsmen chalking up Berbice’s 200 runs which was followed by another fruitful passage of cricket where the 250-run mark was achieved with a boundary through the backward point region.
With both right-handers ominously placed on 85, the race to three figures began. So too did the flurry of boundaries which came off the willow of Crandon who was the first to raise his century compliments of a six raising the two right-handers’ 200-run partnership just before the tea intermission.
Upon the resumption of play a brief impasse between the scorers who refused to continue their duties after they were not given any hospitable treatment during the tea break saw a few minutes being taken to resolve the matter. However, when play resumed Bramble celebrated his hundred with a shot for four through mid-wicket.
After playing well for his century, Crandon succumbed to the spin of Ramcharran who picked up his fourth wicket when the batsman was out caught by Tage Chanderpaul. Bramble and new man Veerasammy Permaul (24) continued to pressure the GCB XI fielders with runs through the gaps as well as the occasional boundaries.
The team’s 350 came up with a single through covers which was followed by an LBW decision off the bowling of Sankar which saw the back of Permaul but not before the left-arm spinner had cracked four fours in his brief stay at the crease.
Keon Joseph (30) and Bramble then forged an aggressive lower-order attack which was decorated with six fours from the fast bowler, aiding in the raising of the team’s 400 runs after a horrific start earlier in the day.
Joseph, who attempted a second run after Bramble played a leg-glance to fine leg was run out via a direct hit after scurrying back for the second. Bramble shrugged off the dismissal and reached 150 in commanding style with a shot for four followed by brief celebration.
After a remarkable passage of defiance, Jacobs wrapped up the Berbice first innings by removing Bramble LWB and knocking over the stumps of Raun Johnson for duck. The action continues today at 9:30hrs.
Caption: Sharaz Ramcharran worked hard for his 4 wickets
