Demerara defeated the President’s XI by 168 runs while Berbice registered a 257-run victory over Essequibo in the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board/Dave’s West Indian Imports Inter-county Under-15 tournament at the Everest Cricket Club and Lusignan Community Centre grounds respectively.
Despite scattered showers, Demerara won the toss and elected to bat first, piling up 270-7 from their 50 overs and then limited the President’s XI to 102 all out in 40.3 overs.
Demerara was led by Jadon Campbell with a top score of 81. He struck 11 boundaries before he was run out attempting to a couple.
Campbell was the centre of the batting attack, sharing in multiple partnerships, including a fourth-wicket stand of 65 with Zachary Jodah who closed unbeaten on 53, with four boundaries after he was dropped on 10.
Earlier, Campbell and Mavindra Dindyal collaborated for a 65-run partnership with Dindyal scoring 41, a knock which included four fours and two sixes. Dindyal was trapped leg before wicket to 12-year-old leg-spinner, Sanjay Algoo.
Campbell also joined with his captain, Alvin Mohabir, to forge a partnership of 53. Mohabir contributed 21 before leg-spinner, Nityanand Mathura pulled off a marvelous return catch.
In reply, 14-year-old Satya France looked composed with 34, elegantly finding the gaps with four boundaries, two of which were punched through the covers. However, looking to slap a delivery from, Danesh Persaud through the covers, plucked out Mohabir to end his innings.
Algoo returned to chip in with 13 while Anthony Khan made 10. They were the only other batsmen with double figure contributions.
Jodah came back with his left-arm orthodox spin to take 3-23 while Persaud bagged 2-9.
Afterwards, Mohabir said the fielding still needed fine tuning but added that he was happy with the team’s all-round performance, pointing out that Campbell batted well while Jodah contributed with both bat and ball.
Mathura, in an invited comment, said the bowling did not click today but credited good batting for Demerara’s victory. He said that he is hopeful his side can bounce back well when the face the defending champions, Berbice tomorrow.
Meanwhile, on the East Coast, Berbice bounced back from their dismal performance in
the first round to notch up 290-3 from their allotted overs before bowling out Essequibo for a paltry 33 in 22.3 overs.
Vice-captain, Rampertab Ramnauth secured the first century of the tournament with an unbeaten 147. His unblemished innings included 10 boundaries but the highlight of his innings was his ability to play the ball on the ground and pick the gaps well, securing secure lots of two’s.
The left-handed batsman shared in a 98-run opening stand with Avishkar Persaud (28) while a 147-run stand with Tameshwar Mahadeo flattened Essequibo.
Mahadeo stroked three boundaries during his 54.
In the bowling department, the 12-year-old off-spinner, Matthew Pottaya continued his superb form to take 3-12 while left arm orthodox Bhaskar Dhanai and off-spinner Salim Khan picked up two wickets each.
Sarwan Disram was the only batsman to reach double figures, scoring 11.
After the match, Rampertab said it was a good feeling to score the first century of the tournament and that he looked forward to continuing to do well for his side.
