West Indies U19 all-rounder Bhaskar Yadram struck his maiden double century to leave Demerara in a commanding position on the opening day of their first-round encounter against the select U17s in the Guyana Cricket Board/ Hand-In-Hand Mutual Fire and Life insurance, three-day U19 Inter-County tournament at Everest, yesterday.
Demerara, the defending champions, romped to their massive first innings score of 445-8 on the back of Yadram’s unbeaten knock of 260 which included a staggering 26 fours and 14 maximums.
The day also belonged to 17–year-old Adrian Hinds who fell for 92 after carving out ten fours and a maximum.
Hinds and Yadram shared a 98-run, fourth-wicket stand after coming together with the score on 96 for two following the dismissals of Robin Williams (20) and Vice-captain Sagar Hatirimani (15).
Hinds stroked the ball sweetly before falling to leg-spinner Niron Bissu with the score on 194 – 3.
Yadram, the captain of the side, continued his knock and dominated the bowlers.
He dispatched any delivery that was lose and mirrored the person who played cricket at the regional first-class level.
Demerara’s innings though, was not without its blemishes as wickets fell around Yadram’s masterpiece.
Bissu, who headed into the tournament in fine form, was the man responsible for the stumbles, capturing the wickets of Stephon Wilson (2), Nkosi Beaton (1) and Kennard Moonsammy (5) to leave the score on 242 – 6.
The skipper, however, found an ally in Dwain Dick who stuck around with Yadram who continued to mesmerise onlookers with his excellent innings.
Dick who carved out three fours and a maximum in a knock of 30, eventually falling late in the day as the U17s took two late wickets to leave Demerara on 445 – 8.
Bissu, who was by far the pick of the bowlers, ended the day with figures of 4-69 from 20 overs. Yadram will resume today on 260 in search of a rare triple at the youth level.
