The Demerara Under-19 Inter-Association cricket tournament got off to a winning start for East Bank who defeated East Coast by five wickets in the first round at the Lusignan Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara yesterday.
Invited to bat, East Coast were restricted to 101. Openers A. Garia and Robin Williams started well but then Garia chased a wide delivery from Dwayne Dick and nicked a catch to Sachin Singh in the slip position for 14 while Williams found the man at cover with a vicious drive off of Rhithik Singh to fall for 17.
Alvin Persaud and Rajendra Singh attempted a partnership of sorts but but Stephon Willison trapped LBW Persaud for 10 while Tameshwar Motiram and Pradesh Balkishun were both removed without scoring to successive deliveries from skipper, Sagar Nathramani.
The tail stood no chance against Willison who enticed the last three batsmen in just two overs to end with 4-17 while Dick (2-13) and Nathramani (2-5) were the other wicket takers.
In reply, Singh played a typically belligerent innings with five sixes and a four for a quick fire 39 while Dick smacked three boundaries and a maximum before retiring.
It was all over in just 24 overs as Nathramani finished the match in typical West Indian style with a boundary.
