Demerara skipper Ashmead Nedd, along with fellow spinners Jaspica Jones and Pradesh Balkisson yesterday scripted a comprehensive seven wicket win over the President’s XI in the first round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-15 50 overs-per-side Inter-county tournament.
Played at the Demerara Cricket Club ground (DCC), the defending champs led by National U15 off-spinner Nedd,
saw fine spells of slow bowling being exhibited by the trio which accounted for 80 percent of the wickets to fall for the President’s XI who were bowled out for 91 in 41.5 overs with opener Sachin Singh top-scoring with a classy 36.
Nedd snatched three wickets for one run with four maidens from 5.5 overs while Jones snared an impressive 3-22 from his allotted 10 and Balkisson 2-11 from his allotted quota of overs. In reply to a modest total, the reigning U15 champs practically cruised to 92 for 3 in 22.5 overs courtesy of knocks from; Robin Williams (16), Adrian Hinds (15), Alphius Bookie (13*) and Avin Gangadin (10).
Demerara began their chase in a positive fashion but lost opener Williams who looked good for his top score. The loss of the opener left the score at 49 for 1 and witnessed Gangadin who struck one four, reaching double figures before he was run out prior to the lunch break.
Hinds was busy at the crease but he too was run out but not before muscling a huge midwicket six during his 25 ball stay. Bookie and his skipper Nedd then sought to take Demerara over the line in quick fashion with good singles backed up by good communication between the wickets which saw them home in no time.
Earlier in the morning, Nedd, Balkisson and Jones wrecked the President’s XI batting line as they shared eight wickets among themselves. The losers got off to a good start adding 48 for the first wicket with the left-handed Singh looking solid in his approach before he was bowled by Nedd.
From 48 for 1, the President’s XI slipped to a miserable 69 for 4 with the wickets of; Sachin Basdeo (00), Yodister Persaud (01), Joel Spooner (08) and Marvin Persaud (02) falling in quick succession.
The tail-enders were then mopped up by the Demerara skipper and company who snapped the last six wickets for 22 runs, bringing a premature end to their innings. The action continues today with a Berbice versus Essequibo clash over at the Wales Community Center Ground which is expected to bowl off at 9:30hrs.
