Despite losing significant play time due to rain, Demerara defeated Essequibo by an innings and 63 runs yesterday, the final day of their third round match in the Guyana Cricket Board’s senior four-day Inter-County tournament.
At the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Essequibo resumed on 28 for the loss of two wickets in their first innings and converted that to 175 all out in 39.3 overs, in response to Demerara’s first innings total of 430 for seven declared. With the follow-on enforced, Essequibo were bundled out for 192 in 40.3 overs.
Essequibo’s first innings crumble had some amount of salvaging by Ricardo Adams who hammered eight sixes and one four during his 65-ball 84. He added 86 for the sixth wicket with Quinten Sampson who made 29 from 25 balls before being bowled by Demerara skipper, Christopher Barnwell.
Adams also added 40 for the fifth wicket with Malcolm Hubbard who chipped in with 24 from 39 balls. Apart from Kevon Boodie’s 15, not other batsman reached double figures.
It was off-spinner, Richie Looknauth who injected a spoke in the proverbial wheel of Essequibo’s innings, picking up four wickets for three runs in 21 balls. Left-arm spinner, Ashmead Nedd bagged 4-60 from 11 overs while Barnwell ended with 2-35.
In Essequibo’s second innings, Looknauth again stifled the batsmen with figures of 3-45. Leg-spinner, Steven Sankar made light work of the lower order with 4-32.
Akshaya Persaud, who struck a century when Demerara batted, also showed his usefulness with ball in hand, taking 2-37 including the wicket of dangerman, n Sampson who was bowled for five.
Ronaldo Renee top scored with 49 from 90 balls having struck seven boundaries before being trapped leg before wicket to Looknauth.
Renne added 63 runs for the fifth wicket with Ricardo Peters who made 44 from 47 balls before he was given leg before wicket to Sankar.
Boodie had another start with 29 but failed to carry on and get a big score. Hubbard made 27 while Neiland Cadogan scored 18 but no other batsman could reach double figures.
