Inspirational performances by Dennis Squires who claimed five wickets and an unbeaten half century by national youth player Ronaldo Renee placed the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in a firm position after Dwayne Adams scored a century for Everest Cricket Club on the opening day of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ Noble House Seafoods second division two-day final at the DCC ground Saturday.
Squires claimed 5-53 from 14.2 effective overs of off spin which was instrumental in restricting Everest to 267 in 68.2 overs while Renee was in aggressive mode as he raced to 55 not out as the hosts reached 92-1 in reply. Adams had provided his team with the ideal start as he blasted his way to 101.
Squires was the main force behind his team’s recovery after the visitors’ dominance in the first session. In the post-lunch period the off spinner collected four wickets as the visitors collapsed from 206-3 to their eventual score. He removed Riyad Sattaur (00), Chris Surat (02), Ranvir Persaud (11) and the final wicket of Steve Ramdass (38) to add to the wicket he took during the first session.
Squires was assisted by national under-15 player Ashmead Nedd and Antonnel Atwell, who collected 3-53 and 2-73 respectively. Immediately after the lunch break Nedd stifled the batsmen with some accurate spin bowling and prized out the century maker as he attempted to heave a delivery which lobbed to slip.
However, before his dismissal, Adams controlled his team’s innings in the morning session. He added 90 with Rishi Hirilall (32) for the first wicket followed by a 97-run, second-wicket partnership with Troy Gonsalves, who made 56. The 27-year-old left-handed batsman reached the boundary 12 times whilst clearing it on five occasions.
After his dismissal at 209-4, Everest never regained momentum as the remaining six wickets went down for 58 runs.
National youth players Renee and Raymond Perez (22) propelled DCC to a good start which was worth 58 runs before the latter was dismissed leg before wicket to Javed Rasheed. That demise did not stem Renee’s flow as he carved the ball to the ropes 10 times en route to his 50.
At the close DCC were still 175 runs adrift of the visitors’ first innings score with nine wickets remaining.
