WD Mavericks powered their way to the top of the Demerara zone after recording a six-run win over WD Masters yesterday at the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Ground in the Guyana Cricket Board/Tropical Springs Over-40 T20 tournament.
With overcast conditions and light drizzles, the match was reduced to 17 overs-per-side with Masters winning the toss and inserting Mavericks to bat. Mavericks posted 106 for four from their allotted overs while Masters stumbled to 100 for four when their overs expired.
Mavericks batting centered around Lalta Suknanan who made 40 not out. Suknanan came to the crease in the second over after Mohan Chatram was trapped leg before wicket to Ramesh Thakur for one.
The 42-year-old Windsor Forrest Cricket Club right hander, rode his luck after being dropped on seven at long on in the eighth over to smash three fours and one six in his 42-ball innings.
Suknanan shared in a 42-run partnership with Muneshwar Balgobin who stroked 30 from 28 balls. Balgobin, like Suknanan, was dropped off of left-arm spinner, Steve Haripal, when on six. However, after hitting two fours and a six, Balgobin was bowled by Haripal in the 10th over.
Sohan Bedasi clubbed two sixes in his six-ball 15 while Imtiaz Mohammed, who was also dropped on six off Sudesh Persaud, chipped in with 14. Haripal, Thakur and Persaud picked up one wicket each.
In reply, Masters scored at a decent pace despite Elroy Fernandes struggling to middle the ball.
When he found the sweet spot of the bat, he stroked consecutive boundaries through the covers before top edging a simple catch on the square for 17.
Thakur returned and looked to pilot the chase with a top score of 32. His innings featured just one boundary before a spectacular catch diving backwards of deep point.
Thakur’s only support came from Chabiraj Ramcharran who ended on 25 not out. Chatram, Bedasi and Navindra Kissoon picked up one wicket each.
In the second match at the venue RP Construction Legends held their nerve to pull off a 10-wicket win over Everest Masters.
Legends opted to bat under sunny conditions after winning the toss and posted 110 for seven from their allotted overs. Everest Masters could only manage 100 all out in their 20 overs.
Parmanand Dindyal steered Masters’ batting with an unbeaten 36, highlighted by two boundaries. Dindyal shared a 39-run partnership for the third wicket with Latchman Yadram who made a patient 17. Ramchand Jailal stroked three fours and a six in his 27-run innings.
Ronald ‘Sticky’ Jaisingh was the pick of the bowlers for Everest as he pegged back the middle order and eventually finished with four for 13. He was supported by Saheed Mohamed with one for 15.
In the chase, Everest’s top order seemed set to mow down the target as Mohamed and Sahadeo Hardaiow took the fight to the bowlers. Hardaiow (18) batted aggressively hitting two sixes through mid-off and a four before falling to Lakeram Dindyal (1-18).
Mohamed played an uncharacteristic innings of patience as he struck just a single boundary down the ground and rotated the strike well before being trapped leg before wicket to Seemangal Yadram for 23.
Yadram also removed Basil Persaud for 10 to signal Everest’s collapse. Yadram went on to finish with three for seven from his three overs.
Parmanand Dindyal returned with ball in hand to take two quick wickets while Rohan Mangal bagged two wickets to dent Everest’s prospects of taking home victory.
The action continues tomorrow with KV construction facing Bel Air Rubis Ultra Tec and RP Construction taking on WD Masters at Enmore. At Everest, Rverest Masters will host WD Mavericks while Regal Masters will play Sand Piper Masters.
