As 25 wickets fell in just over five hours of play on the second day of the final round in the Hand-in-Hand Inter-County Under-19 three-day tournament at Lusignan Community Centre yesterday, Demerara holds a slim 18-run lead over Berbice, with five wickets in hand in their second innings.
Berbice won the toss and inserted Demerara to bat on a wicket that had issues on the run up and a spot on the pitch that forced half a day’s play to be lost in addition to the entire first day.
With the match bowling off at 12:40, Demerara were bowled out for 60 in just 31.3 overs but Berbice were equally as embarrassing as they folded for 54 in 22.1 overs while Demerara continued with its poor batting display to close the day on 12-5.
The spinners dominated the day with left-arm orthodox, Kelvin Umroa, bagging his third five-wicket haul of the tournament as he spun webs around Demerara with his variations and returned 5-21.
Despite seven catches going down, the defending champions were off to a blinder with skipper, Kevlon Anderson, finding the outside edge of Robin Williams’ bat and bowling the dangerous Sachin Singh with a gem of a delivery that clipped the bails in successive balls to cap off a double-wicket maiden first over.
Adrian Hinds, who was dropped twice, showed some resistance with a 67-ball 28, including three boundaries and a six that was swept into mid-wicket but was put down by Gevon Schultz who landed in the drain in a courageous but futile effort.
However, with Hinds holding out to cover, only Joel Spooner reached double figures as he remained unbeaten on 12.
Anderson claimed 2-3 in his six overs while left-arm spinner, Nigel Deodat, returned 2-8 from four overs.
Berbice did not play as champions, with only Junior Sinclair reaching double figures with 27 from 44 balls.
Sinclair’s innings was not what was expected of the young all-rounder as he chipped down the wicket and played an unattractive swipe only to pop the ball to point, one ball after Seon Glasgow was removed by Ashmead Nedd.
Nedd, a left-arm orthodox spinner, wrapped up the lower order to finish with 3-7 and showed his maturity as he looked to defend the miniscule score.
Qumar Torrington hurried the top order with the wickets of both Anderson and Jeetendra Outar, who both failed to score, but it was off-spinner, Joel Spooner who snared 4-9 in his five overs to contain the explosive batting order.
Demerara, heading into the second innings with a lead of six were left in shambles as Umroa bagged three quick wickets including Williams and the dependable Alphius Bookie.
Demerara opted to shuffle the order and send in the night watchmen who slept on the job as they retained Sachin Singh, Spooner, Nedd and Torrington. Pradesh Balkishun and Dequan Bamfield are at the crease on one and zero respectively.
The match enters its final day at 09:30 hours.
