Demerara began the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior female Inter-County limited overs tournament with an eight-wicket win over Essequibo at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Bourda yesterday.
Because of early morning showers the contest was reduced to a 46-overs-a-side affair but Demerara needed only 16.5 overs to bowl out Essequibo for 39 before chasing the target down in 5.5 overs.
Essequibo, fielding only nine players, won the toss and surprisingly chose to bat, a decision they soon regretted as Heema Singh and Kaycia Schultz bagged four wickets each.
None of the Cinderella County batters reached double figures and the total was boosted by 13 extras.
The highest score came from Nicola Welcome, who soaked up most of the deliveries sheltering the bottom order, and Keisha Tucker with scores of six runs each.
Player of the match, Schultz returned 4-5 from her 3.5 overs while Singh recorded 4-19 from her eight over spell.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport at the end of the match, Schultz said it was just sticking to line and length that got her the wickets as her plan paid off. In the chase, Demerara’s opening pair, Lotoya Smith and Mandy Mangru dominated from ball one.
Mangru was run out for 17 attempting a second run and the match was stopped.
However, after only 15 minutes the players were back at it and Smith, after levelling the scores was given out leg before wicket for 15. Captain Akaze Thompson was given a low full toss for her first
delivery which she worked to backward point to end the match.
Today, Essequibo faces Berbice at the Lusignan Community Center Ground, East Coast Demerara from 09:30h.
