Demerara Cricket Club’s (DCC) captain, Trevon Griffith led from the front with an eighth-wicket haul, followed up by a half century but Georgetown Cricket Club still maintained a lead of 50 runs on the first day of the Georgetown Cricket Association/ Star Party Rental/GISE/Trophy Stall division one tournament.
In another fixture, Bhaskar Yadram took 7-70 for Everest to highlight an evenly poised contest against Malteenoes Sports Club.
Play yesterday was interrupted for an hour due to rain, and GCC, which won the toss, elected to bat first, posting 228 all out in 52.2 overs.
At the close of play, DCC were 178-8.
GCC got off to a positive start with Robin Bacchus and Winston Forrester stroking half centuries.
Forrester’s 54-ball 58 was decorated with nine fours and two sixes one of which was smashed through mid-wicket off of Griffith before he held out to Qumar Torrington patrolling the same region off the very next delivery.
Earlier, Bacchus blasted his way to a 36-ball 57 that was laced with 11 fours and a lone six. The left-handed 29-year-old shared in an 82-run opening stand with Jeetendra Sookdeo (24) but both batsmen were removed by Griffith.
The off-spinner continued his domination of the GCC batsmen by capturing the wickets of Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed (29), Leon Johnson (12) and Bernard Bailey (22) to finish with 8-53 from 17.2 overs.
He was supported by left-arm spinner, Ashmead Nedd who claimed 2-28 from his 13 overs.
In reply, DCC lost Raymond Perez without scoring but Griffith returned to stroke a fine 58. His innings off just 39 balls featured seven fours and three sixes and he forged a second-wicket partnership of 51 with Tevin Imlach (08) before both batsmen were removed by Winston Forrester who also claimed the wicket of Sachin Singh (04).
Joshua Persaud (28) and Steven Sankar (37) tried valiantly but were accounted for by Devon Lord and Stephon Wilson respectively.
Torrington is currently at the crease on four along with Carlton Jacques who is on three.
Meanwhile, over at Malteenoes Sports Club, the hosts won the toss and took first strike where they managed 178 all out in 39.2 overs. In reply, Everest were 147-7 in 37 overs.
Malteenoes were rocked by seamer, Yadram, who picked up his best first class figures of 7-70 from 13 overs.
Joshua Cupidor (03) was the first wicket to fall after having his stumps scattered by Raylex Payne in the fifth over. His opening partner, Clarence Baird (08) then held out to Troy Gonsalves at mid-wicket in the next over.
Nkosie Barker was trapped leg before wicket just after hitting Yadram for a six and a four off a no-ball for 22 to leave Malteenoes in trouble at 39-3 in the 11th over.
However, Shaquille Williams (13) provided some resistance before he glanced to Joseph Perry behind the stumps to hand Yadram his fourth scalp.
Former West Indies U19 leg spinner, Amir Khan enticed a drive from skipper, Steven Jacobs who picked out Gonsalves for 25.
But Kellon Carmichael and Marcus Watkins provided some stability for the hosts with a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket as Everest lost their way, putting down three catches.
However, the pressure was released when Watkins chased a wide delivery down the leg side with the toe end of the bat trickling the ball into a diving Perry to leave the hosts 148-6 at lunch.
Carmichael lost his wicket soon after play was resumed, holding out to backward square after carving five sixes, one of which came from Khan that landed on the roof of Tutorial High School over long on.
Everest were kept in check as only Tagenarine Chanderpaul resisted with an unbeaten 41, consisting of six fours, half of which were through the covers.
After the rain interruption, his opening partner, Renaldo Renee was trapped leg before wicket to Carmichael who also accounted for skipper, Akshaya Persaud for eight and six respectively.
Off-spinner, Jacobs rocked the middle order with three quick wickets including that of Bhaskar Yadram who smashed him over mid-wicket into Tutorial for a six and down the throat of Barker, patrolling the same area on the next ball.
Khan showed his brutal form with the bat, hitting Barker for two sixes over deep square leg as he finished with 31 in a 44-run partnership with Chanderpaul.
Saheed Mohammed is currently the other batsman at the wicket and is yet to get off the mark.
