Defending champions Essequibo fell to a 25-run loss at the hands of Lower Corentyne during the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Female 17-and-under T20 franchise league.
Playing at the Cumberland Ground, the contest was reduced to a 15-over per side affair. Lower Corentyne won the toss and opted to bat, posting 91-2 from their allotted overs.
After opener Shenia Solomon was bowled by Lisa Charles (1-16) for duck, Ashmini Munisar teamed up with Keisa Durant to take the fight to the defending champions.
Munisar struck five boundaries on her way to a top score of 41 while sharing in a 60-run stand for the second wicket with Durant (14 not out) before being bowled by Nafeeza Hendricks (1-18). Navani Ramnauth was the other batter unbeaten on 12. Essequibo gave away 24 extras. In reply, Essequibo were contained to 66-5 despite Annalisa D’Aguiar scoring 19 and Charles, 12.
Jamie Campbell had another outstanding day with the ball, taking 2-6 but her team gave away 18 extras.
Meantime, at the Everest Cricket Club, Georgetown strolled to a 59-run win over West Berbice. Batting first, Georgetown posted 99-9 in their 20 overs as Keisha Jones top-scored with 22 laced with three boundaries. Georgetown were also indebted to 20 extras and 15 runs from Naiomi Barkaye in the face of four run outs.
Tienacia Solomon and Mariam Telford picked up two wickets each for 15 and 12 runs respectively.
In reply, Barkaye returned to take 2-7 and leave the lower order to Hemwattie Mohabir who took 3-9 to contain West Berbice to 40 all out in 17.1 overs. No batter reached double figures but extras tallied for 13 runs.
Earlier at Everest, East Coast registered their first victory after beating East Bank by eight wickets.
East Coast won the toss and invited East Bank to bat where they contained them to 70-6. Aided by 24 extras, East Bank were indebted to Nadica DeSantos (14) and Shania Maglarie (10) in reaching a respectable total.
Shanaza Majeed picked up two wickets while Sarah Amin, Tilleya Madramootoo, Vinita Balkishun and Shemika Edwards chipped in with a wicket apiece.
In reply, Amin and Madramootoo returned to lead their side to victory with unbeaten scores of 17 and 15 respectively. They were supported by player of the match, Majeed, who scored 12 as East Coast reached 74-2 in 12.2 overs.
West Demerara also recorded their first victory, beating Upper Corentyne by 38 runs at Cumberland.
West Demerara won the toss and opted to bat, posting 91-2 in their 15-over allotment. Leading the way with the bat was Keshna Boodanlall, who struck two fours on her way to 25 while being aided by fellow opener Kezie Menthland (12) and Vapine Pitamber (22 not out).
In the chase, Boodanlall returned to stifle the Berbice unit with 3-13 as Ariana Bukhan supported with 2-12. Only Jenell DeSouza and Olivia Tyndall managed double figures with 14 and 11 respectively.
The teams will rest today and return for the final round tomorrow before the two teams with the most points clash in the final on Monday at Everest.
