GCB Inter-County Boy’s U-17 50-Over
Romario Ramdehol picked up three wickets while Afraz Ali Budhoo struck an unbeaten 72 to lead Berbice to a six-wicket win over Demerara when the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) Inter-County Boy’s U-17 50-Over Championship commenced yesterday.
Demerara were asked to bat first at the Everest Cricket Club and managed 197-8 off their reduced quota of 33 overs due to rain.
Openers Vickash Wilkinson and Parmeshwar Ram added 66 to hand their team a decent start before Ram provided Berbice with the breakthrough by trapping Ram lbw for 14. Without addition to the score, Ramdehol sent back Marcel Nandu (00) in similar fashion and had Shamar Apple (11) caught and bowled to put Demerara in further trouble.
Wilkinson struck two fours and a similar number of sixes but fell lbw to Afraz Ali Budhoo, six short of a half century, after facing 44 balls. Jonathan Mentore was removed by Micah Amsterdam for 15 before Demerara lost two more quick wickets; however, Emanuel Lewis and Dhanesh Persaud propped up the total with some attacking batting.
Lewis smashed four fours and three sixes in a top score of 49 of 47 balls before he was run-out, while Persaud hit one four and two sixes in scoring 29 off 22 balls. Ramdehol was the pick of the bowlers with 3-21 from seven overs, while Amsterdam had 2-43.
Set a revised target of 197, Berbice reached home for the loss of four wickets in 30.1 overs. Rampersaud Ramnauth and Razam Kobeer put on 32 for the first wicket before the latter was taken of Ram for 22 off 17 balls with one four and two sixes. Ramnauth (09) was taken off Joshua Kissundial with the score at 42.
Adrian Hetmyer and Ramedhol added 49 for the third wicket to steady the chase somewhat, with Ramdehol taking the attack to the bowlers, hitting five fours and one six in scoring 40 off 37 balls.
Arun Gainda uprooted the stumps of Hetmyer (11) and had Ramdehol caught to keep his team in the hunt; however, any hopes of a Demerara comeback quickly faded as Ali Budhoo and Romesh Bharrat put on an unbroken fifth wicket of 93 to take their team to safety.
Ali Budhoo struck four fours and five sixes in an unbeaten 72 off 52 balls, while Bharrat made 30 not out with two fours off 37 balls. Gainda took 2-37. Ramdehol was named man-of-the-match. The competition continues today.
