A four-wicket haul from Mathew Nandu followed up by a half century from Brandon Jaikaran ensured Demerara their second consecutive win as they defeated Essequibo by three wickets in the Guyana Cricket Board Under-17 Inter-County tournament at Georgetown Cricket Club ground yesterday.
Essequibo won the toss and batted, recovering from 79-9 to post 153-8 from their allotted overs.
Though they fought valiantly Demerara, in reply, scampered to 154-7 in 48.2 overs.
Essequibo’s batting collapsed early on with skipper, Sheldon Charles edging to his opposite number, Chanderpaul Ramraj at first slip while his opening partner, Sunil Persaud slashed to Romel Datterdeen at point before Ronaldo Scouten was clean bowled by Jagdesh Dowlataram who finished with 2-24.
Nandu, a leg spin bowler following in the footsteps of his father, former West Indies Under-19 player Arjune, Nandu, got the ball to bite and turn which resulted in Nazir Mohamed being stumped and Wazir Mohamed trapped leg before wicket.
Nandu dismissed Azizi Christiani caught by Ramraj at short leg and then scattered the stumps of Jason Holder to finish with 4-15 from his 10 overs that featured five maidens. Aryan Persaud was unbeaten on 39 from 134 balls, a gritty knock that featured just two boundaries.
Persaud shared in an unbroken 74-run partnership for the last wicket with Orin Gibson who finished on 28 not out. Demerara spilled two crucial catches and gave away 53 extras, 43 of which came in wides.
In the chase, Nandu and Jaikaran put on 50 for the opening stand but a mix up in the middle resulted in Nandu being run out for 22 from 48 balls.
Shamar Yearwood too was run out for 13 while Ramraj was bowled for five as Demerara slipped to 95-3.
Left arm spinner Persaud then took three wickets in his final over, dismissing
Jaikaran for 43 from 124 balls.
His innings was decorated with three boundaries which was elegantly scored from a late cut, leg glance and cover drive respectively.
Two balls later, Chetram Balgobin’s brisk 18-run cameo was foiled after holding out to long on while Edmond Pearson was caught at mid-off off the final ball of the over to finish with 3-29.
Andre Seepersaud, dropped twice ended on 22 not out.
