Anthony and Ricardo Adams pulled off stunning bowling performances to see Essequibo beat West Berbice by six runs in a low-scoring third round contest at Bush Lot yesterday in the SBF Petroleum/ Cricket Guy Inc Jaguars 50-over Franchise League.
Defending 82, the left-arm spinning Adams duo restricted West Berbice to 77 all out in 26 overs.
Ricardo Adams struck in the first over with an arm ball to bowl Kevin Sinclair but rain interrupted the match, forcing a 75-minute break in play.
But when the match resumed, Shimron Hetmyer (08) looked to take advantage of Ricardo Adams with a six over long on but the following ball he picked out Akinie Adams at mid-wicket.
Javid Karim lived dangerously with rash swipes that went inches from the fielders but held out to Joshua Jones at mid-off for 12 while Leon Andrews became Ricardo Adams’ fourth victim when he was trapped leg before wicket for a 40-ball 10. Ricardo Adams ended his spell with 4-30.
From there, it was the Anthony Adams show. The captain showed his class and temperament in the face of a small total with the wickets of Gudakesh Motie (04) and Seon Glasgow (09), both of whom were caught in the deep.
The skipper then produced the delivery of the day with a ‘jaffa’, pitching on leg stump and coming back to clip the off-stump and square up Andrew Dutchin.
West Berbice clawed back with five wides and two doubles but the captain shifted the game in their favour with the wicket of Keon Joseph before sealing the eccentric win by removing Shamal Angel for a first ball duck. He ended with 6-25, earning him the man of the match award.
The captain spoke to Stabroek Sport after the match stating, “even though we scored a low total we backed our bowlers to do the job and in the end they went out there and got it done.”
Commenting on his performance, the skipper rated this performance as one of the best in his career while noting that it is a significant win for the side since it puts them in a great position to retain their title.
Earlier, overnight moisture on the pitch resulted in an hour’s delay but students from the Bush Lot Secondary School used the opportunity to get photographs and autographs from West Indies batsman, Hetmyer.
Sinclair was the main architect in the routing of the reigning champions, bagging 5-31 including the wicket of Anthony Adams who shuffled across to defend only to be bowled behind his back sending Sinclair into a cartwheel celebration that ended in a backflip much to the amusement of the hundreds of students witnessing the action.
Sinclair made light work of the lower order and wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Joshua Jones to end with 5-31. Seamer, Keon Joseph picked off in-form batsman, Kemol Savory for six as he rocked the top order to return 3-21.
Quentin Sampson was the only batsman to spend any significant time at the crease with a 56-ball 45. His innings was laced with five fours and two sixes, both over mid-wicket and immediately after being dropped on three off of Motie (2-26).
Ricardo Adams also chipped in with 14 from 22 balls, cutting two fours along the way before his off stump was uprooted by Joseph.
Meanwhile at Tuschen, East Bank recorded their first victory after beating West Demerara by six wickets in a low scoring affair.
Off-spinner, Trevon “Bugsy” Griffith was virtually unplayable with figures of 6-8 to bowl out West
Demerara for 81 in 30.2 overs. He was supported by left-arm spinners, Trevon France (2-15) and Stephon Wilson (2-22). Tevin Imlach played the lone hand for West Demerara with an unbeaten 27 from 67 balls, hitting three fours and one six.
In reply, Richie Looknauth (2-38) removed Griffith and Mavindra Dindyal cheaply but Sachin Singh’s unbeaten 30 and Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed’s 28 was enough to see East Bank reach 82-4 in 18 overs.
