National all-rounder Akshaya Persaud missed out on a century and also took four wickets as Mc Gill Super Stars registered a two-wicket win over Cornelia Ida Cricket Club to reach the final of the West Demerara Cricket Association’s 50 overs competition Sunday.
Rain left Persaud stranded on 98 and his four-wicket haul was not enough to save Cornelia Ida Cricket Club (CI) as McGill Super Stars Sports Club won their President’s Cup semi-final Sunday at the Canal Number Two ground, West Bank Demerara.
With overnight showers hampering the start of play, the contest was reduced to 40 overs a side and CI won the toss and batted, posting 211-5 in 38 overs of the rain interrupted contest.
The chase was then revised to 153 from 27 overs and after the showers McGill, in their run chase reached 157-8 in 26.4 overs.
CI were off to a blazing start with Persaud and Dhaniram Azamudeen sharing in a 120-run opening stand.
Azamudeen peppered the boundary with four sixes and as many fours during his knock of 54 before he was caught attempting another big shot over mid-wicket
Persaud carried on to stroke 98 not out including six fours and four sixes on his way to his fourth consecutive half century of the tournament.
Mohammed Wazid Ali made 11 runs before play was stopped.
Amar Deen took 2-41 with Balram Aaron, Daniel Basdeo and Travis Persaud being the other wicket takers.
In reply, McGill were kept on their toes by the Guyana Jaguars left-arm orthodox spinner Persaud who returned with the ball to take 4-22.
Persaud’s wickets included that of former Guyana under-19 captain, Travis Persaud who inside edged a delivery onto the pads before the ball rolled on to the stumps and dislodged the bails. Richie Looknauth also kept things in check with 2-12 from six overs but it was Prahalad Singh’s unbeaten 70, consisting of eight sixes and Basdeo’s cameo of 20 that saw McGill into the finals set for Sunday.
