West Indies under – 19 player Bhaskar Yadram produced a sensational all-round performance to guide defending champions Demerara to a commanding eight-wicket victory over Berbice at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, yesterday in the Guyana Cricket Board, Hand-In-Hand one day competition.
Yadram Blasted 121 and captured 3 – 46 in a fine display at Providence to underscore his undisputed talent.
Demerara, early on, won the toss and elected to field under cloudy skies during which the Berbice openers endured a tough early morning assignment.
Demerara’s skipper Yadram and his deputy Ronaldo Ali – Mohamed utilized the conditions well to give their side an ideal start with the new ball.
It was Ali – Mohamed, however, who got the breakthrough when he removed Vermaootoo Senwasane (5) caught and bowled in the sixth over with the score on 18.
Berbice skipper Adrian Sukwah then joined Kevin Sinclair in a short-lived union after Sinclair held-out to short- midwicket off the bowling of Yadram, attempting a hook shot as Berbice slipped to 27 – 2 in the ninth over.
Sukwah found an ally in Javid Karim and the two pushed the score over the 50-run mark. They both got going with two delightful shots to calm any lingering nerves. Sukwah pulled his opposite number through backward square for four while Karim nonchalantly stroked medium pacer Dambuka Nqgando down the ground for four to carry the score to 62 – 3 in the 17th over soon after which Nqgando removed Sukwah for 18.
Demerara’s spinners then came into the attack and continued where the seamers left off during which time Karim and Matthew Hardyal bided their time and carried the score to 101 – 3 at end of the 34th over. Karim was on 37 while Hardyal supported with 14 in a 71- run fifth-wicket partnership. Karim shortly after brought up his 50 in the 41st over with an elegant cover drive for four.
Off – spinner Richie Looknauht, however, bowled Hardyal behind his back for 26 to end the resistance, which left the score on 133 for four.
Berbice, though, ended their innings with a flurry of boundaries, with Karim in particular dispatching both Yadram and Ali – Mohamed for fours to push the Berbice score along.
Ali – Mohamed (4 – 46) and Yadram (3 – 46) combined for seven wickets as Berbice ended their innings at 197 – 9. Karim, who was one of Ali – Mohamed scalps, made a composed 74 which included 11 fours.
Demerara in their reply, lost opener Raymond Perez (00) in the second over to medium pacer Karim. The West Indies under – 19 pair of Yadram and Joshua Persaud, however, added 98 runs for the second wicket to set a solid platform for Demerara’s successful run chase. The pair, during that time, stroked several eye-catching boundaries in a mature partnership which highlighted why they were selected for the Caribbean under – 19 side. Yadram though, was given a reprieve early in his innings when he was dropped by his opposite number at short mid-wicket.
Persaud’s dismissal in 27th over, left the score in 102 – 2 and saw him falling seven short of his half century.
Yadram though carried on by reaching his 50 in the 24th over when he swept left-arm spinner Richie Seecharand for four after which he creamed him through the covers for another boundary before dancing into to him and lifting the spinner back over his head for six.
Yadram, who made his first-class debut for Guyana this season, took a liking to Seecharand and laced him for a four and six to end the game, moments before recording his century. He ended on 121 not – out from 108 deliveries which included 15 fours and three sixes while Demerara reached 203 for 2 in the 40th over.
Meanwhile, The Select Guyana Under – 17 side defeated Essequibo by 16 runs at the Police Sports Club ground courtesy of a blistering 119 from opener Alex Algoo.
The Select Under – 17’s won the toss and elected to bat first in the game reduced to 28 overs a side.
They then piled on 222 for 7 from their 28 over on the back of Algoo’s 119 which lasted 72 deliveries and included nine fours and 10 sixes. He also shared in a 157 – run opening stand with Sachin Singh who made 52.
Essequibo’s bowling was spearheaded by Mahendra Persaud who had 3 – 29 from four overs.
Essequibo in response, fell 16 runs short, ending on 206 for 8. Persaud returned with the bat to score 59 while Stephan Campbell supported with 41 in a losing cause.
Gevon Shultz (3 -32) and Junior Sinclair (3 – 12) were the chief wicket takers for the under – 17 side.
