The Guyana Cricket Board Select Under-19 team yesterday sent Essequibo crashing to a 329-run defeat in the final round of the Guyana Cricket Board senior female Inter-County 50-overs tournament at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Camp Road.
Just two days after the record was set for the highest total in the tournament’s history, a blistering century from Select U19 captain Shabika Gajnabi, helped her side rewrite the record book as she powered the U19s side to 384-4 in their allotted 42 overs after the match was reduced due to a late start.
Then, a seven-wicket haul from off spinner, Mandy Mangru dismantled Essequibo for yet another low total, 55 all out, in 18 overs.
Gajnabi showcased her wide array of shots with 21 fours along the ground and a solitary six during her innings of 160.
She was busy around the crease after a slow start and made full use of a let off after being dropped at square leg when she was on 80.
The 18-year-old who recently returned from a West Indies training camp partnered with Cherry Ann Fraser to forge a 229-run partnership for the third wicket after the Select U19 had lost the wickets of Mangru and Casey Charles for six and nine respectively.
Fraser capitalized on being put down twice by Kumarie Persaud to smack 11 fours and one six but missed out on her century after she was caught on 93 off the bowling of leg break bowler, Vineta Balkishun.
Balkishun finished with 2-59 including the wicket of player of the match, Gajnabi.
With Gajnabi and Fraser back in the shed, Afruica Gentle (39 not out) and Lafona Gilgeous (18 not out) played aggressive cricket, sharing an unbroken partnership of 67.
In the chase, Mangru spun webs around Chelsea Belfield, Persaud and Maria Anthony, who were all dismissed by the lbw route. She also bowled Onica Stoby and Roxanne Hendricks to end with 7-18 from her eight overs.
Mangru was supported by Navina Ramnauth (3-14) who bowled Annalisa D’Augiar, Balkishun and the Essequibo captain who top scored with 15 including two boundaries through the mid-wicket region.
After the match, Gajnabi said the innings was very pleasing since this was the first time she ever scored triple figures.
She however said helping the team was her number one priority.
The young captain acknowledged that this was a good platform for her and will boost her confidence heading into the Inter-County T20 tournament and the Cricket West Indies Regional 50-overs and T20 tournaments.
