Under the recent restructuring of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) female Under 19 tournament, the GCB Select A defeated a Select B team by 15 runs in the 20-overs-a-side match at the Everest Cricket Club yesterday.
Select A won the toss, batted and their openers put on 123 runs for the first wicket, one less than the team’s total. National players, Mandy Mangru and Cassey Charles clobbered their way to 41 and 60 respectively. The pair was assisted by 22 extras that would prove vital.
In the chase, Select B were aided by poor bowling from select A as they gave away some 39 extras, the highest score for that innings while Shenita Grimmond (24) and Sherica Gajnabie (29) provided the only resistance. Magru returned with the ball to pick up 2-8, while Sherry Ann Fraser bagged 2-24 and Yogeeta Balkishun 3-27.
Speaking to the victorious captain, Mangru related that it was just keeping to the basics and despite limited training sessions she was happy to come out on top while player of the match Charles was reluctant to continue improving her batting on her way to potentially earn a West Indies call up.
The deciding factor in the match apart from the sloppy bowling was the fielding as Select A were sharper and more energetic, stopping the singles and focused on the match but on the other hand, Select B dropped crucial catches that cost them the match.
The tournament was originally set to feature teams representing Demerara, Berbice and the President’s XI while according to a GCB official, Essequibo had not submitted a single name and by virtue failed to come up with a team for the competition.
Under the new format for the 2018 season, the President’s XI squad that was previously listed only had six players turning up, as such Berbice and Demerara were transformed into GCB Select teams with those not featuring in the playing XI going into the reserve team that will play today.
Following today’s match there will be a net session with all 27 of the girls (12 from Demerara and 15 from Berbice).
