After a four-day break in the Guyana Cricket Board 50-over Franchise League, the fifth round is set to begin today across Berbice and Demerara.
With four matches booked, the stakes are high with Essequibo and Georgetown racing away with two wins, one of which includes a bonus point to see them out front with nine points each while East Coast suffered a wash out in the previous round to sit on six points. Lower Correntyne, with an opening round win, are on four points while West Demerara gained two points for the washout and East Bank and Upper Corentyne are yet to get off the mark.
Today’s action will see Essequibo traveling to Port Moraunt, East Berbice where they will face Upper Corentyne for a chance to extend the gap on the others.
Upper Corentyne will be hard pressed to get their name in the win column. Upper Corentyne were shell-shocked as their formidable batting line up collapsed to spin for just 51 in the last match. Essequibo will try to come with the same attack that will feature spin from Anthony Adams and Ricardo Adams leading the charge. Georgetown, like Essequibo will also want to open up a lead when they face West Demerara at the Everest Cricket club, Georgetown. West Demerara were ‘manhandled’ by Essequibo earlier and didn’t have a chance to respond in the second round while Georgetown has been led from the front by skipper, Leon Johnson notching up back-to-back half centuries to see them tallying big totals. With Akshaya Persaud and Romario Shepherd in the side for the last match (although they did not play) if they do get play today, the are expected to make a big impact in the West Demerara set up.
East Coast could have a chance to remain in contention should Georgetown and Essequibo both lose and they win to move on to 10 points and take the lead but Lower Corentyne will be no walk over at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. East Coast will fancy themselves with big guns such as Chandrapaul Hemraj and Bhaskar Yadram in their side. However, Lower Corentyne with explosive all rounder, Jonathan Foo and crafty left-arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul in the mix could make for an even contest. The ace in the hole has been versatile under-19 all-rounder, Kevlon Anderson who continues to grow from strength to strength with both bat and ball.
In the final showdown of the day at Bush Lot, West Berbice East Bank and West Berbice will square off. East Bank has had a horrid run so far but can take some positives with Trevon Griffith scoring the lone century of the tournament and 78 in the first match, making him easily the leading run scorer in the tournament and with the likes of Sherfane Rutherford, Keon Morris and Sachin Singh in the team, they will continue to press to get results. Gudakesh Motie has been the stand out for West Berbice with the ball while Under-19 all rounders Kevin Sinclair and Javed Karim have been exceptional. The first ball bowls off from 09.00h at each venue.
