GCB Inter-County Super50
Defending champions of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Super50 Inter-County competition, Demerara, inflicted a crushing 7-wicket win over rivals Berbice courtesy of an unbeaten half-century from Tagenarine Chanderpaul after spinner Devon Lord led an excellent bowling effort to skittle Berbice for just 129 all out at GCC, Bourda.
After winning the toss and electing to bat on what looked like a flat pitch, the Berbicians looked at sea against some disciplined bowling, and apart from Junior Sinclair (37) who opened the batting and Tomani Caesar (24 not out) who made a valuable lower-order contribution, no other batsman would get past 20 in the Berbice innings.
In fact, the first over set the tone for the Berbicians’ innings, with Rampertab Ramnauth nicking behind off the fourth delivery of the first over from Ronaldo Ali Mohamed for a duck.
Kevin Sinclair (3) and Kevlon Anderson (2) came and went just as quickly, both out caught off the bowling of Bernard Bailey to leave Berbice in peril at 16/3 in just the fourth over.
Jonathan Foo joined Junior Sinclair, and together they managed to temporarily stop the fall of wickets, taking Berbice to 51 before Foo (3) became Ali Mohamed’s second victim, out caught behind.
From there, wickets fell at a regular interval as Lord entered the attack, snaring the scalps of Zeynul Ramsammy (13), Veerasammy Permaul (0), and Nigel Deodat (10). Akshaya Persaud, better known for his exploits with the bat, also got in on the wickets, capturing 2-19 (6 overs) as Berbice were rolled over for just 129 in 40 overs.
In search of 130 for victory, Demerara found little resistance as Chanderpaul put on a clinic on how to bat in those conditions. While he lost opening partner Raymond Perez in the first over just as last game for a duck, Chanderpaul stitched together a match-winning partnership with fellow left-hander Matthew Nandu after skipper Tevin Imlach (3) had been struck lbw by Clinton Pestano, leaving Demerara 4/2 in just the second over.
Despite the early setback, Chanderpaul and Nandu took their precious time, content to defend good bowling while gathering runs when they could. While Chanderpaul would go on to finish the innings unbeaten on 63 (77 balls, 4sx5, 6sx3), Nandu would fall six short of a half-century, getting to 44 before he was out caught off the bowling of Nigel Deodat. Nandu’s patient innings came off 81 balls and included two sixes but no fours.
Persaud (7 not out) joined Chanderpaul, and together they saw their side to victory without further loss, guaranteeing the defending champions a spot in Saturday’s final.
Meanwhile, over at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara, the GCB Select XI rebounded from their loss in the first round to beat Essequibo by four wickets.
Essequibo won the toss and elected to bat, producing a sub-par performance in their innings with wicketkeeper batsman Kemol Savoury standing tall, stroking 51 as his teammates fell around him. They eventually limped to 169 all out in 45.2 overs, as the Select XI bowlers turned in a team effort.
Left-arm spinner Golcharran Chulai led the way with 3-45 (8 overs), while Jonathon Rampersaud (2-41, 10 overs), Kwesi Mickle (2-18, 7.2 overs), and Aryan Persaud (2-32, 10 overs) contributed two wickets apiece. Carlos La Rose was the other wicketkeeper with a solitary dismissal.
In response, much like their bowling effort, multiple batsmen chipped in as the Select XI got to 171/6 in 46 overs to give themselves a shot at qualifying for the final. La Rose came back with the bat to make a responsible 28 not out (44 balls, 4sx5) to guide the team home alongside Aryan (6 not out).
Earlier in the run chase, Navindra Persaud got off to a patient start, making a 62-ball 26 (4sx3) while skipper Rampersaud (32), Jonathan Van Lange (18), and Mickle (19) all chipped in with valuable contributions to push their side close to victory before La Rose added the finishing touch.
Rampersaud, for his 2-41 and 32, copped the man of the match award. The third round of the competition is set for tomorrow (October 17), with the Select XI taking on Berbice at Lusignan. If the Select XI wins, they will qualify for the final, provided Demerara beats Essequibo on the same day over at the GCC Ground, Bourda. However, if Essequibo wins, they will almost certainly join Demerara in the final once Berbice manages to defeat the Select XI. Both matches will begin at 9:30am.
