Demerara condemned Essequibo to a record 358-run defeat in the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board Senior Female 50-overs Inter-County tournament at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground yesterday.
Batting first, maiden centuries from Akaze Thompson and debutant Temica Wilson propelled Demerara to the highest score ever in the tournament’s history, 380-3 from their full quota of overs while a five-wicket haul from left-arm spinner, Kaycia Schultz, helped skittle Essequibo for just 22 runs in 24.3 overs.
Thompson, after being dropped on 0, 3 and 11 made use of her chances to hammer the inexperienced Essequibo bowling for 15 boundaries on her way to the highest score in Senior Female One Day cricket, 164 not out.
After slipping to 46-2, the 26-year-old shared in a record 177-run partnership for the third wicket with Wilson. The 23-year-old Kuru Kuru resident, playing in her first ever competitive hardball match, notched up 105 after she too was dropped three times. Batting with seven stitches on her foot, Wilson clobbered 10 boundaries before she was bowled by Onica Stoby.
Essequibo’s poor run in the field was marred with a total of nine dropped catches, effectively damaging the good start they had when Vinita Balkshun and Kumarie Persaud struck with the wickets of Kesha Fraser and Lashanna Toussaint respectively.
Essequibo, playing with eight females who featured in the Guyana Cricket Board female U-17 franchise tournament last November, were clueless against Schultz as she spun her way to a career best 5-2 and eventually rolled over the Cinderella County for another substandard total.
In pursuit of the mammoth total, Essequibo’s captain, Lisa Charles was trapped leg before wicket in the first over to Heema Singh, setting up the momentum of the innings.
Demerara were also poor in the field, dropping four catches, two of which came off of Annalisa D’Aguiar who failed to make use of her chances by becoming the 21-year-old spinner’s first victim. No batsmen scored more than five runs.
Speaking to this publication after the match, Thompson noted that it was a very special century for her after being “in a bit of a poor form,” but said she had “backed herself to come out and get a big score.”
Wilson told Stabroek Sport that this was a very meaningful ton, especially since she was playing with the pad constantly sliding down on her injury but battled through the pain to get her century. She pointed out that it was her friend who encouraged her to join the team only last week Thursday when she visited them at training to which she accepted the offer.
Meanwhile, Charles said she was disappointed in the dismal performance of her troops but was confident they could end the tournament on a high when they play their last match otomorrow.
