Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) maintained their dominance in Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) organized tournaments when they defeated Everest Cricket Club by first innings points to win the GCA/Noble House Seafoods second division two-day title over the weekend at the DCC ground.
The hosts were bowled out in the last hour of the final day (Sunday) for 372 in reply to Everest 267 which was scored on most of the first day play on Saturday.
Resuming on 55 and 22 respectively, Ronaldo Renee and Tevin Imlach’s partnership was broken early into the day’s play when off spinner Shaheed Mohamed removed the latter for 26 after the pair had carried DCC from an overnight position of 92-1 to 126. That strike ended a 71 runs, second wicket partnership.
The fall of Imlach’s wicket did not stop Renee who continued to bat positively, reaching the boundary on 14 occasions before he was dismissed for 80.
After Renee went it was the Andrew Gibson’s show on the field though the visitors picked up a few more wickets to give themselves a good shot of winning the title.
The right hander, who plays with lots of elegance, batted positively as he manipulated the balls into the gaps on either side of the pitch before he ran out of partners. Gibson featured in two valuable partnerships which took DCC past Everest’s first innings total. He first added 82 runs with Dexter George who made 35 followed by 65 for the ninth wicket with Antonell Atwell (51). Gibson’s unbeaten innings was laced with eight fours and a six.
Mohamed finished with 5-100 while Javed Rasheed and Raphael Singh took two wickets each for Everest.
Gibson’s effort overshadowed Dwayne Adams’ century which was made the previous day when Everest raced to 267.
Scores in the match; Everest first innings 267 all out in 68.2 overs, Adams 101 and Troy Gonsalves 59 while Dennis Squires took 5-45.
DCC 372 all out, Gibson 99 not out, Renee 80 and Atwell 51. Mohamed captured 5-100.
DCC collected a trophy and $100,000 and Everest a trophy and $60,000, while Gibson was given the man of the match award. Khemraj Ramdeen of Everest received the best batsman prize (382 runs), Joel Spooner of Transport SC collected the award for the best figure (8-30 vs St. Stanislaus), Rasheed took home the prize for taking the most wickets (47) and Mohamed grabbed the trophy for scoring the highest individual score in the competition. The most valuable players were Rasheed (zone A) and Imlach (zone B). Keon Morris of TSC pocketed the award for being the best fielder.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, president of the GCA Roger Harper commended both teams for their exertions and express gratitude to the sponsors, adding that they do look forward to their continued support. He said that is was an interesting game and lauded the performances of Dwayne Adams, Renee and Gibson for their batting while also making mention of Dennis Squires and Mohamed who took a five-wicket hauls for special mention.
