Essequibo senior all-rounder, Lisa Charles was in top form with bat, ball and in the field to lead her side to a three-wicket victory over Lower Corentyne in the Guyana Cricket Board Secondary Schools Female Under-17 T20 Franchise tournament yesterday at the Bushlot Ground, West Berbice.
With the outfield burnt and a pitch that had not been covered from early morning showers, the Essequibo Franchise was forced to sit through their scheduled 9:30 am start, only to play a 10 overs per side match beginning at 1 pm where they won the toss and elected to bat.
Essequibo posted 67-5 in their allotted overs while limiting Lower Corentyne to 65-3.
Essequibo got off to a cautious start with just two runs coming from the first over however, they were rocked with Alicia Duggin bowling Lavina Ragobeer and Onica Stoby within three balls.
With the runs hard to come by, Charles showed she was favouring the leg side consistently trying to play across the line and when it connected, the ball traveled. Her knock included a blistering sweep which many in the stands compared to Brian Lara and a hard pressed running of four. Duggin finished with 2-13.
In the chase, the first wicket partnership between Ashmini Munisor and Lofona Gilgeious looked on track to win the match comfortably, putting on 40. Despite two dropped catches, Charles did well to pull off a low catch and remove Gilgeious for nine while Munisor was run out by a direct hit from Maria Anthony for 15.
Stoby and Patterson picked up one wicket each.
