A series of dropped catches saw Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) establishing a lead of 187 runs in response to the Guyana Defence Force’s first innings score of 87 on day one of the Georgetown Cricket Association/Star Party Rental/GISE/ Trophy Stall first-division, two-day match yesterday.
Playing at home under glorious sunshine, GCC won the toss and inserted GDF to bat who were bowled out shortly after lunch.
GCC, in their reply had reached 274-2 at the close of the day with their top four batsmen all registering half centuries.
GDF allowed openers, Jeetendra Sookdeo and Robin Bacchus to share in a 124-run stand.
Sookdeo was dropped twice and Bacchus, on three occasions.
Bacchus smashed three fours and five sixes, two of which landed in the upper tier of the Rohan Kanhai Stand in the same over that he was trapped leg before wicket for 70 from 64 balls.
GCC went to tea at 136-1 but shortly after, Sookdeo departed for 56 off of 75 balls, picking out Kurt Lovell at long off. He had struck four sixes and two four.
Nevertheless, vice-captain, Leon Johnson and Mavindra Dindyal flattened the GDF bowlers as they showed their ability to work the ball all around the field in the unbroken partnership of 128.
Johnson, who scored an unbeaten double century in the last match, was lucky to be put down on 15 by off-spinner, Randy Lindore who failed to hold onto the return catch in his first over.
Johnson duly carried on to close the day on 70 after facing 101 deliveries. He stroked four fours and three sixes, one of which landed on the roof of the Guyana Cricket Board office.
Dindyal, 14, who is playing in just his second first-division game for GCC, notched up his maiden half century at this level with a commanding punch past the bowler for one of his five boundaries. He was also fortunate to be dropped twice on 22 and 40 as he pushed to 60 not out.
Earlier, GCC’s bowlers were too good for the GDF batsmen as seamers, Bernard Bailey (3-7) and Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed (3-17) ripped through the top order leaving GDF reeling at 72-7 by lunch.
After that, little work was left for left-arm spinner, Stephon Wilson (3-38) who quickly finished off the lower order.
David Rajmangal was the linchpin of the batting order but was left stranded on 33 not out from 47 balls. Joshua Jones (18) and Damion Witney (14) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
The match resumes at 09.30hrs today.
