Fifties from Askhaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach along with Sherfane Rutherford’s blitz, helped Demerara to five-wicket win over the National U17 XI as they retained their title in the 2015 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Raj Singh Insurance Brokers-sponsored 50 overs inter-county tournament which ended yesterday at the Everest Ground.
Persaud, who was named the man-of-the-match, top scored for his team, with 90 off 116 balls an innings which contained five fours and four sixes while the more aggressive Imlach stroked 69 with six fours.
They were supported by Rutherford, who smoked an unbeaten 18-ball 43 with three fours and as many sixes, as Demerara gunned down their target of 223 in 47.4 overs, ending on 224 for 5.
Opposition skipper Ronaldo Ali Mohamed entertained the crowd with an
unbeaten 69 off 32 balls as he creamed eight fours and two sixes, piloting his side to 223-9. Wicket-keeper Kevin Sinclair chipped in with 32 with five fours while opener Raymond Perez (23) and Bhaskar Yadram (27) were also among the runs.
Left-arm Daniel Basdeo (3-18) led the attack with Persaud (1-14), Malcom Hubbard (1-18), Carlton Jacques (1-41), Rutherford (1-47) and skipper Travis Persaud (2-47) chipping in.
Imlach was dangerous up front during the chase as he muscled six fours during his half-century but Looknauth and Mohamed made inroads into the batting line, removing Vivian Albert (1) who was out leg before wicket to Looknauth and Ronaldo Renee (2) who was caught off Ali Mohamed.
Persaud and Imlach then upped the scoring rate with a variety of shots as they weighed in with a massive 150-run partnership which set the foundation for the Demerara chase before Hetheramani had Imlach out caught at mid-wicket.
Persaud then threw away his chance of making a century when he was removed by part-timer Sinclair while Hubbard was run out for seven but with 15 more runs needed to win, Rutherford ended his assault with a six as his team reached over the finish line with ease.
Earlier, Perez and Joshua Persaud (18) added 36 for the first wicket before Jacques had the latter caught and bowled. Perez continued to middle the ball well before Basdeo found the edge of his bat and he was taken by wicketkeeper Imlach.
Adrian Sukwah faced the same fate as Basdeo grabbed his second while Timothy McCalmont (2), had his stumps and bails disturbed by Hubbard. But Yadram and Sinclair joined forces to add a valuable 43 runs for the fifth wicket.
The former national U15 skipper, who looked a bit out of touch this Tournament, was out in the 35th over, caught at mid-wicket off Persaud’s spin. Ramnarine Chatura (15) looked decent but he too along with Nedd who made a duck were sent packing cheaply.
Batting at eight, the skipper then launched a brutal counter-attack and found an ally in Richie Looknauth (06) who he went on to add 74 for the ninth wicket with. The U17 captain took a special liking to Persaud, hitting him for a six and three fours in the 46th over, as the youths piled on 63 runs in the last five overs.
