McGill Super Stars Sports Club defeated Christ Ambassadors (CA) by 36 runs to move into the semifinals of the West Demerara Cricket Association 50 overs President’s Cup on Sunday.
The quarterfinal showdown unfolded at the Canal No. 2 Ground and was reduced to a 40-over per side affair after a late start. Once the action got underway, McGill won the toss and elected to bat first where they were dismissed for 180 in 38.5 overs. They then restricted CA to 146 in 32.1 overs.
Mc Gill got off to a brisk start, racing to 30-1 after losing Travis Persaud cheaply in the fourth over. Sudesh Persaud and Shafiek Deen rotated the strike nicely taking the score to 83.
The half century stand was broken with Sudesh Persaud given leg before wicket to Chris Sam for 28 including five boundaries. Abdool Razack then joined Deen to carry the score to 118 as Razack was bowled by Immanuel Martin for 24 while Deen fell shortly after for 36 as he tried to hit Kenton Boyce for his sixth boundary only to hold out to deep mid-wicket.
Mc Gill suffered a collapse with four wickets going in five overs but Prahalad Singh came in to the crease and stroked a handy 28-run cameo consisting of a quartet of fours and a pair of sixes. Boyce ended with 3-25 while Martin returned 3-30 and Joel Thomas chipped in with 2-35.
In the chase, CA lost Martin in the second when he was caught at backward point off the bowling of Diquan Murry. Michael Albert, Chadreapaul Harrylall and Selwyn John also fell in quick succession to see CA reduced to 47-4 in the 13th over. Murry returned to remove Floyd Bovell but Chris Sam who witnessed the carnage from the non-striker’s end was the only resistance, bringing up his half century at the halfway stage. Sam was joined by David Ross to stage a fightback before Ross departed for 15 and Sam soon followed after given leg before wicket to Travis Persaud for 70 consisting of eight boundaries.
Travis Persaud was the pick of the bowlers with 4-25 while Razack claimed 2-20 as Murray and Sudesh Persaud both ended with 2-30.
