A sizable gathering at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground on Saturday paid witness to the conclusion of the Demerara Cricket Board’s Inter Association U-19 cricket competition, which the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) won in a last-over finish. GCA came up against a combined team made up of players from the other four associations that participated in the DCB tournament.
The combined team won the toss and took the first strike. They lost Vikash Wilkinson for three, who was caught off a short ball from John Persaud. Skipper Sachin Balgobin joined the other opener, Deonarine Dindyal, and they both started slowly, but momentum grew as the innings went on, with Balgobin looking in good nick until he went for 23 off Jonathan Van Lange.
The combined team then lost quick wickets as Nicholas Shiopersaud and Nityanand Mathura went back to the hut. However, Dindyal continued scoring freely at the other end before being dismissed for a well-played 53-off-leg spinner, Riyad Latiff. At 104 for 5 in 26 overs, the combined team looked in a spot of bother.
However, the hard-hitting Anthon Lim and in-form player Shiloh Adams had other ideas. Together, they put on a rapid partnership of 150, characterised by good running between the wickets, classy batting, and power hitting. Lim went for 75, and Adams 79. Thereafter, the innings lost their way, and the combined side closed at 296 for 8 off their allotted 50 overs. Riyad Latiff was the best GCA bowler, with 4 for 53 off 9 overs.
In reply, GCA had a steady start with Romeo Deonarain and Ryan Latiff, with Deonarain being the initial aggressor, scoring a rapid 57 before he was caught and bowled by Mathura, with the score at 136 from 22 overs. Latiff, in the meantime, was growing in confidence and went for a well-constructed innings of 95 with six fours and nine sixes.
GCA then lost Mavendra Dindial and skipper Alvin Mohabir in quick succession to leave the game in the balance. Jonathan Van Lange and Zachary Jodha came to the crease and put on a display of sensible batting mixed with aggression that tilted the balance in favour of their team before Van Lange went for 48.
Jodha rallied with the tail before he went for 32, swinging the game slightly in favour of the opposition. With 3 runs required off 2 balls and the tension increasing, a Krsna Singh delivery was edged by John Persaud and raced to the boundary for four to spark celebrations. Singh finished with 4 for 38 and Mathura with 2 for 48.
At the presentation ceremony that followed, DCB Vice President Puneet Jaigopaul spoke on behalf of the board and GFSCA President Ramchand Ragbeer on behalf of the sponsors. Ryan Latiff was adjudged man of the match and best batsman, while Krsna Singh took the best bowler accolade and Alvin Mohabir the best catcher award.
For the competition, GCA was the winner and West Demerara was the runner-up. Romeo Deonarain was adjudged player of the tournament and batsman with the most runs, while Mavendra Dindyal had the highest individual score, Wavell Allen was the bowler with the best figures in an innings, Krsna Singh was the bowler with the most wickets, Alvin Mohabir had the most catches, and the wicketkeeper with the most dismissals was Shiloh Adams.
