Essequibo’s left arm orthodox spinner Keanu Harry’s performance with the ball highlighted the opening day of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 tournament yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
Harry’s 7-66 off 31 overs restricted defending champions Demerara to 261 all out in 105.2 overs and eclipsed two solid half-centuries from opener Tevin Imlach and number seven batsman Malcolm Hubbard who made 51 and 50 respectively. The exploits of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) spinner left the visitors with eight minutes to bat before the close, which they did responsibly to close on one without loss.
Earlier, Demerara dominated the first session after being inserted as they reached 82-1 by lunch. Ronaldo Renee was the only batsman dismissed during that period after he was dismissed by off spinner Loaknauth Chinko, with the score on 78. Sherfane Rutherford joined Imlach and the pair batted through to lunch.
After the break Imlach and Rutherford took the score to 103 before the latter departed for 16 after being bowled by Harry who commenced his inroads. Harry then removed Imlach at 112-3, when the batsman seemed set for a big score. Imlach’s patient knock lasted 165 minutes and came off 146 deliveries.
Like the top order, most of Demerara’s middle order batsmen, with the exception of Hubbard, got starts but threw their wickets away. However, from a worrying position of 114-4 after Harry dismissed skipper Travis Persaud leg before wicket, the hosts managed to recover, compliments of Hubbard.
The right-handed batsman added 64 for the fifth wicket with Ashkay Persaud to take Demerara to the interval without any further scare.
However, immediately after the break, Harry, who bowled wicket-to-wicket removed Persaud lbw for 27. After Persaud’s dismissal, Hubbard, who was on 36 when tea was taken, raced to his 50 off just 82 deliveries. Shortly after celebrating his milestone he became Harry’s fifth victim.
Harry collected two more wickets to end a good day in the field. He was supported by off spinner Chinko, who grabbed two wickets.
Essequibo’s openers Nathan Persaud and Satesh Latchana who are both yet to score, will today start the day for their team with a first innings total of 262 to be achieved.
In the other first round game between Berbice and Guyana Under-17 at the Wales Community Centre Ground.
Batting first the Under-17 team were bowled out for 94. Berbice in reply were 136-6
