By Michaelangelo Jacobus
The Berbice U-19 side began their defence of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) U-19 Inter-County 50-over title with an easy 7-wicket win over their Essequibo counterparts yesterday at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) Ground, Thomas Lands.
While the Berbicians won the toss and sent in the Essequibo side to bat, it was their star off-spinner Salim Khan who laid the foundation for the victory with his guileful off-breaks.
The Essequibo side began brightly enough as openers Rajindra Ramballi and skipper Shahid Vieira set what looked like a solid platform of 62 for the first wicket. However, it was a false dawn of epic proportions. When Vieira fell for 25 (50 balls, 4sx3) in the 18th over, it sparked a monumental collapse for the Essequibo side as the other 9 wickets could only add a further 46 runs.
his side’s 7-wicket win over Essequibo. He was adjudged man-of-the-match for his effort with the ball.
Khan was the catalyst for the Essequibo side’s demise as he had Vieira caught. He then added Ramballi to his wickets tally in the 20th over, via the same mode of dismissal for 21 (68 balls, 4sx4). To make matters worse, he had Myheim Khan out caught for a first ball duck off the very next delivery to leave Berbice 63/3.
With Khan making inroads in the top order, his fellow bowlers followed suit as only one other Essequibo batsman would make it into double digits. Jadon Campbell battled on to make a 26-ball 24 (4sx2, 6sx1) but could only look on as his teammates collapsed in a heap as the Essequibo side were bowled out for 108 in 34.5 overs.
While Khan finished with figures of 3/30 (8 overs), he received healthy support from Kumar Deopersaud (2/11. 6.5 overs) and Sanjay Algoo (2/27, 5 overs).
Needing just 109 for victory, the reigning champions needed just 21.5 overs to wrap up the win with 7 wickets to spare.
Essequibo’s Bruce Vincent had a double strike with Berbice at 22 in the fifth over, removing opener Rampersaud Ramnauth for 12 and Kevin Kestin for a first ball duck in consecutive deliveries. However, Rashad Gaffaur (22 not out, 33 balls, 4sx1) and Damion Cecil (31 not out, 43 balls, 4sx2) guided their side to victory. The only other wicket to fall was skipper Rampertab Ramnauth who made 27 (43 balls, 4sx2, 6sx2) before being caught off the bowling of Golcharran Chula.
Vincent returned figures of 2/23 (4 overs) while Chulai had 1/25 (5 overs).
Demerara crush
Select XI by 9 wickets
Simultaneously, the Demerara U-19s announced themselves as challengers for the trophy with a 9-wicket thrashing of the GCB Select XI. Much like Berbice, Demerara won the toss and inserted the Select XI to bat at the Lusignan Ground, East Coast Demerara.
Their decision was well-warranted as Wavell Allen and Riyad Latif took three wickets apiece to rout the Select XI for an even 100 in 33 overs.
Only four Select XI batsmen managed scores in double digits as the batters failed to form any substantial partnerships. They lost wickets consistently in the face of disciplined bowling from the Demerara attack. Middle order batsman Justin Doobay was the only batter to get past 20, scoring 23 (38 balls, 4sx3) while Anthony Khan (13), Shiloh Adams (17) and Nityanand Mathura (19 not out) were the others to get starts.
Allen ended with figures of 3/22 (5 overs) while Latif snared 3/33 (10 overs) to wreck the Select Xi’s innings.
In response, openers Sachin Balgobin (44) and Romeo Deonarain (53 not out, 74 balls, 4sx4) almost took Demerara to victory without the loss of a wicket, however, the former fell, caught off the bowling of Mathura with just a run needed for victory in the 20th over. Demerara skipper Mavindra Dindyal would hit the winning run to complete the emphatic victory.
The tournament which will determine the country’s national side continues tomorrow with Essequibo taking on Demerara at Malteenoes and the Select XI facing Berbice at the Meten-Meer-Zorg Community Ground. Both matches will bowl off at 9:30 am.
