Leon Johnson schooled the University of Guyana (UG) with a masterly unbeaten ton as the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) reached 357-8 replying to UG’s 47 all out at the end of the first day’s play of the GISE/Star Party Rental/Trophy Stall First-Division two-day match 310 runs ahead.
At the GCC ground, Bourda yesterday, the visitors won the toss and elected to take first strike but were routed for a meagre 47 in just 21 overs in the first session.
In contrast, after lunch, the hosts made them pay as they piled 357-8 at close of play.
GCC fielded three players who were making their debuts and each of them made an impact.
With the ball, teenage spinner, Darius Andrews made his mark with figures of 4-12 from five overs.
Skipper, Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed (3-7), Stephon Wilson (2-5) and Carlos LaRose (1-17) were also among the wickets.
Pavindra Persaud was the only batsman to reach double figures, scoring 10 before being bowled by Wilson.
With an early lunch taken, when the teams returned it was strictly business for the opening pair, Robin Bacchus and Jeetendra Sookdeo as they forged a 126-run stand.
Sookdeo was happy to wait the bowlers out and pounced brutally on anything in his firing range.
He took a liking to off-spinner, Linden Austin who was hoisted twice into the long on boundary.
Sookdeo smashed three sixes and two fours before departing for 44 from 52 balls. His opening partner however carried on to make 86.
Bacchus who was dropped when on three, made UG pay for their mistakes, carving six fours and eight sixes before being trapped leg before wicket by Dwain Dotson.
Debutant, Mavindra Dindyal also got into the runs with a well composed 46, hitting three sixes and a single four in his 45-ball innings.
However, the day belonged to the Guyana captain as he punished the university’s bowlers.
Johnson was impeccable with his stroke play that showed he was in a class above the rest. The test batsman was off the mark with a boundary, his first of a dozen fours and six sixes.
Omesh Daniram and Dotson tried to keep their side in the game with figures of 4-80 and 3-60 respectively.
