Demerara and Berbice started their campaigns with victories in the opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-15 Inter-County 50-over competition yesterday. While Demerara delivered a dominant performance against the Select XI at Lusignan, Berbice edged out Essequibo in a low-scoring battle at LBI.
Demerara stamped their authority on the competition with a massive 181-run win over the Select XI, thanks to an outstanding bowling display from spinner Reyaz Latif.
Batting first, Demerara posted a formidable 246-9 in 50 overs, led by a composed unbeaten 53 from Prosper Jacobus, which included five boundaries. Skipper Brandon Henry contributed 46 (4x4s), while Nathan Bishop (23), Joshua Collette (16*), and Reyaz Latif (14) chipped in to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Select XI’s bowlers found some success, with Joshua Thomas (3-46) and Tyrese McPherson (2-32) leading the attack, but their batters struggled to mount a fightback.
In response, Select XI crumbled for 65 in 19.4 overs, unable to cope with the brilliance of Latif, who returned figures of 7-20. Patrice Fraser (3-11) provided solid support, ensuring an early finish. Only Akash Ramdewar (17) and Arav Sukhram (11) reached double figures in an otherwise dismal batting effort.
Berbice emerge top of low-scoring contest
Over at LBI, Berbice secured a 26-run win over Essequibo in a match where bowlers dominated proceedings.
Berbice struggled to 132 all out in 36 overs, with Luke Amsterdam (40) and Arif Bacchus (36) leading the charge. However, the batting unit found it difficult against Shazim Mohamed, who starred with 5-18, while Jathneil Nurse chipped in with 2-15.
Chasing 133, Essequibo fell short, being bowled out for 106 in 34.5 overs. Bomesh Lall (20) and Darrius Pearson (11) made starts but failed to anchor the chase. Richard Ramdeholl and Ravindra Persaud took three wickets each, while Leon Reddy (2-12) and Veto Gomes (1-19) ensured Berbice’s grip on the game.
The GCB U15 Inter-County tournament continues today, with Demerara facing Essequibo at LBI and Berbice taking on Select XI at Lusignan. The competition serves as a platform for selecting the national Under-15 team for the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Regional Championship in Antigua this April.
