A fine batting effort from opener Sachin Singh and impressive bowling from all-rounder Alphius Bookie spurred the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) into today’s Georgetown Cricket Association/ Guyana Diabetic Associa-tion/ PHOW Under-17 T20 final.
Singh and Bookie’s efforts assisted DCC to defeat the Gandhi Youth Organisation by 34 runs at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground (GCC), Bourda yesterday.
DCC won the toss and elected to bat and a small gathering saw opener Singh get going with a scintillating straight drive for four while Primchand Ghansham eased pacer Yeudistir Persaud through backward point for four to give DCC a steady start.
The two took the score to 30 without loss after the first power play and added another 16-runs to carry the score to 46-0 after 10 overs.
Ghansham (23), however, retired-hurt with the DCC score on 54. His departure brought Bookie to the crease and, along with Singh, they carried the score to 70 – 0 after 15 overs.
Bookie, though, who added some impetus to the innings, fell for 16 with the score on 91 – 1 in the 18th over.
DCC eventually ended on 115 – 2 from their full complement of overs. Singh, who batted the entire innings, ended on 49 not-out which included three boundaries to signal a welcome back to form for the young opener.
Pradesh Balkissoon 2-20 from four overs was the only wicket-taker for GYO, who, in reply, struggled to gain any momentum and were 27-3 after the 10th over. Off-spinner Nkosie Beaton grabbed three wickets for 10 runs from his four overs to quell any attempt by GYO to chase DCC’s score. It was then the Bookie show as he utilized the overcast conditions to good effect to snare four for 11 and strangle GYO’s efforts as they ended on 81 for 8 to hand DCC a 34-run victory and a place in today’s final.
Meanwhile, Transport Sports Club (TSC), brushed aside Malteenos Sports Club (MSC) by seven wickets in the earlier match to book a place alongside DCC in today’s final. MSC won the toss and elected to bat during which they displayed a dismal batting performance to score 38 for nine from their 20 overs. None of MSC batsmen reached double figures as Joshua Wilson and Kevlon Anderson recorded identical figures of two for seven while Joel Spooner supported with 2-5.
Transport in reply, raced to 39 for two in 7.4 overs. Anderson retuned with the bat to score 19 not-out which included two fours. Ray Seecharran (1-16) and Jerimiah Scott (1-7) took the two wickets to fall.
