Essequibo remained at the top of the points table after completing an exciting three – wicket victory over Georgetown in fourth-round action of the Guyana Cricket Board/Jaguars three – day franchise league at the Tuschen Sports Club ground, East Bank Essequibo, yesterday.
Essequibo resumed with 156 – 5 with Ricardo Adams on 95 and Mark Williams on 34.
The pair had added 116 runs the day prior to put their side on the brink of victory and yesterday, the duo batted smartly under overcast skies with Adams working a delivery from Christopher Barnwell through the mid-wicket region to post his second century of the league, much to the delight of his teammates and the small crowd which gathered.
Unfortunately for Georgetown, who were hoping to snatch a victory, he was then dropped soon after reaching his century with the score on 166 by a diving Barnwell at mid-on.
With 21 runs more needed to complete the victory, Williams miscued a hook-shot and was brilliantly caught at fine-leg by Sunil Singh to hand Barnwell his five-for with the score on 172 for 6.
Williams’ gritty 43 was filled with seven elegant straight and on-drives for boundaries.
His demise brought Vijay Surujpaul to the crease and he immediately latched onto off-spinner Gajanand Suknanan and lacing him for two boundaries through the on side to ease whatever tension he may have had.
Surujapul, however, two runs later, became Barnwell’s sixth victim, in the following over to add another twist during the final morning with rain and the late arrival of match officials, forcing the game to start around 11:30hrs.
Adams, though, ended the game with two maximums, both of which came from the bowling of off – spinner Ramaal Lewis, one landing out of the ground to carry the score to 194 -7.
Adams finished with an unbeaten 116 a knock which included 11 maximums and four fours while Barnwell ended with 6-48 in a losing cause.
