The National Under-17 XI pulled off a daring heist yesterday, defeating Essequibo by 11 runs in a thrilling first round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U19 limited overs tournament played at the Wales Community Centre Ground.
Set 119 to win, Essequibo folded at the hands of the U17 team thanks to the bowling efforts of Man-of-the-match Richie Looknauth who bagged 3-27 while two wickets apiece from skipper Ashmead Nedd (2-21) and Sagar Hetheramani (2-27) helped to restrict them to 107 in 37.4 overs.
Left-arm Essequibo spinner Akenie Adams, who ended with 4-22 from nine overs, tormented the U17 batsmen with his guile and variation while support came from West Indies Under-19 all-rounder Kemo Paul, who top scored with 22 and picked up 2-20.
Keanu Harry 2-22 and Looknauth Chinkoo 1-24 efforts with the ball had helped contain the National U17 to 118 all out in 40 overs.
When Essequibo batted, Mohammed and Looknauth dealt early blows when they removed the openers Parmesh Parsotam (06) and Nathan Persaud (09)
cheaply. However, Paul and David Williams (18) consolidated with fluency, aggression and alertness as they upped the scoring rate.
Williams, looking to add to the one four and six which he managed earlier, went for an expansive drive and was bowled by Nedd, leaving the score 64 for 3.
New man Travis Drakes (15) joined Paul in the middle with Essequibo requiring less than 55 runs to win with more than 25 overs left.
The momentum would then shit again when Paul, looking to go over extra Cover, mistimed his drive and was caught by Nedd of the bowling of Tyndall. A freakish mix up between Sachin Persaud (13) and Drakes resulted in the latter being run out by some good piece of fielding from Bhaskar Yadram in the deep.
Hetheramani, who bagged six wickets in the last round of the three-day Match, had Mahendra Mahase (00) out for a golden duck when he was caught by wicket-keeper Kevin Sinclair as Essequibo were left tottering on 88-7.
The off-spinner continued to bowl tightly and was rewarded with another wicket when Harry (04) was caught by Ramnarine Chatura at mid-on. The skipper struck with the wicket of Persaud, who attempted a booming drive and was caught at the edge of the circle.
Essequibo raised their hundred with a big shot for four by Johnathan Fernandes (08) which gave his teammates a glimmer of hope, but Adams was caught behind by Adrian Sukwah off Lookauth’s bowling. The knockout blow was then dealt by Looknauth who picked up the final wicket of Fernandes who was also caught by Sukwah.
Earlier, Adams and company made things difficult for the U17 batters who were unsettled from the beginning with the skipper Nedd being thetop scorer with 21. Five batsmen, Yadram (14), Raymond Perez (11), Gavin Boodwah, Ramnarine Chatura (10) and Richie (13), got into double figures but failed to push on and post bigger scores.
