Off – spinner Richie Looknaught and seamer Romario Shepherd combined to capture six wickets and hand East Coast an innings and 182 runs mauling on the final morning of their clash against West Demerara in Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ Jaguars franchise league at the Tushchen Sports Club ground, yesterday.
East Coast, resuming their innings on 74 – 4 and with a deficit of 249 runs, were reduced to 141 – 9 after number 11 batsman Deonarine Seegobin opted not to bat after suffering a sprained finger on the first morning.
When play resumed yesterday, Sherfane Rutherford was the first man to go, falling to Shepherd without scoring.
A partnership of 41 between Skipper Vishaul Singh and Darshan Persaud stalled the procession for a bit but Skipper Akshaya Persaud accounted for his opposite number, by removing Singh for 36 in an innings which came off 127 balls.
Looknaught then dismissed Persaud for 32 and as the remaining batsmen failed to make any significant contribution, East Coast innings closed on 141 – 9.
Looknaught, who was a member of the successful Guyana U19 side, ended with 3 – 32 from 16 overs to enhance his growing reputation while Shepherd bagged 3 – 50 from his 10 overs.
The league continues this weekend with four more matches across the country.