Former Guyana Under-19 captain, Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed and seamer Bernard Bailey ensured Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) advanced to the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association/New Building Society 40-overs tournament by defeating Police Sports Club by 16 runs despite a century stand from Shawn Kendall and Kemol Savory at GCC, Bourda yesterday.
Batting first, GCC were propelled to 210-9 from their allotted overs while Police, in their chase, stuttered to 194 all out in 39.4 overs.
GCC began badly, being reduced to 48-4, but with Gavin Singh playing a blistering innings of 41 from 45 balls including one six and two fours and Timothy McAlmont’s knock of 32, in a fifth-wicket stand of 54 runs, was the platform for Ali-Mohammed to cut lose.
After returning from the Cricket West Indies fitness test, Ali-Mohammed was introduced to the batting at number 11 where he faced 15 balls for his unbeaten 45.
He struck six sixes and one four while Bailey supported with 17 runs.
In reply, Police benefited from an 18-run first over with Andrew Lyght Jr., taking Ali-Mohammed to the cleaners.
However, after a few exchange of words Lyght Jr., was dismissed by Bailey for 24.
Savory, batting at number three, lost three partners in quick succession which saw Police reduced to 45-5.
Savory and Shemroy Kendall then came together and shared a stand of 110.
Kendall was the more aggressive of the two, smashing five fours and one six in his innings of 54 balls. On his way to 62, he was dropped four times, twice by the same fielder at long off and a missed return catch off of Ali-Mohammed. However, Ali-Mohammed was to get his man pulling off a sharp catch at silly point off of Stephon Wilson.
Savory was also dropped twice and when he tried his first unorthodox shot of the innings, an attempted scoop, it resulted in his stumps being dismantled by Wilson for 42 from 58 balls with Police needing 47 runs to win.
A spirited knock from Eon Rodrigues at the end of the innings was not enough with too much left for the tail to do.
Bailey finished with 3-28 while Wilson and Singh claimed 2-23 and 2-14 respectively from eight overs.
