Defending champions Demerara remained unbeaten and will square off with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Select Under –17 XI in the GCB/Hand-in-Hand Inter-County U19 50 Over tournament today.
The U17 side lost to Berbice by 70 runs at the Everest Cricket Club ground but still managed to advance to the final, while Demerara brushed aside Essequibo by 208 runs at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence yesterday.
At Everest
Berbice won the toss and elected to take the first strike and was dismissed for 155 in 43.1 overs, after the left-arm spinner and skipper Ashmead Nedd snared 4 – 19 from his ten overs. Only opener Kevin Sinclair, who made an even fifty inclusive of three fours and a solitary six, showed brave resistance. He received support from skipper Adrian Sukwah (20), with whom he was involved in a run out, whilst number ten batsman, Sylus Tyndal, (25) also chipped in, to push Berbice to pass the 150 run mark.
The U17 XI in their reply, found themselves in early trouble at 37 – 4, in the 19th over after losing Sachin Singh (3), Alex Algoo ( 21), Junior Sinclair (2) and Rajendra Singh (1) in quick succession, due to tidy bowling by the Berbicans. They slipped into further trouble when Kevin Christian (7) fell LBW to Karan Arjpaul to leave the GCB Select XI tottering at 51 – 5, at the halfway point of their innings.
The chase, which seemed unlikely, was now left up to the last recognized pair in Kevlon Anderson and skipper Nedd, who joined forces and only added 12 runs, before Anderson (19) skied Deon Sinclair to cover, leaving his side in shambles, at 63 – 6 at the end of the 30th over.
The writing was on the wall when Nedd (7) drove Deon Sinclair to cover which left his team still needing an unlikely 78 more runs for victory, with the score on 77 for 7 in the 34th over.
They were finally dismissed for 85, in the 42nd over to hand Berbice a 70 run victory, which however, failed to carry their side into the final. Leg spinner Deon Sinclair, (3 – 18), Karan Arjpaul (3 -9) and Sinclair (2 – 12) were the pick of the bowlers for Berbice. Kevin Sinclair was adjudged the man of the match for his fifty and two wickets which aided Berbice’s win.
Over at Providence
Meanwhile, Demerara defeated Essequibo by a mammoth 208 runs at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on the back of a fine century form opener Raymond Perez.
Demerara who won the toss and opted to bat, piled on 300 before being dismissed in the 50th over. Perez’ batting was the highlight of the innings; scoring 125, while Ramnarine Chaturia supported with 73. Joshua Jones grabbed 4 for 65 and Joel fortune 3 for 47, bowling for the Cinderella County.
Essequibo, in their reply, were shot out for 92 in the 25th over, as Keshram Seybadon wrecked Essequibo’s innings, grabbing 5 for 21 from seven overs. Kurt Lovell, 27, and Chanderpaul Mohabir who made 18 not out, were the only batsmen who showed any promise.
The final will commence at the Providence Stadium, today from 9:00 hours.
