Demerara U-17 cricket trial: Solomon’s X1 in control after first day

Aug 29, 2008 Sports

Quincy Ovid

By Sean Devers
Dexter Solomon’s X1 was in control against Shameer Fazal’s X1 at the end of the rain-hit opening day of their two-day Demerara under-17 cricket trial at Everest yesterday.

Fazal’s X1 were precariously placed on 45-5 off 17 overs replying to Solomon’s X1 first innings score of 168-6 off their allotted 65 overs.

Opener Quincy Ovid continued to stake a strong claim for a debut inter-county call-up with a solid 42 with two fours on the heavy outfield on a day in which the action was halted a few times because of sharp showers.

Ovid and Kamal Ramkissoon, who made 23, gave Solomon’s X1 firm 60-run first wicket foundation before left-arm pacer Andre Stoll bagged two wickets and the spinners never allowed the batsmen to score freely although Asif Habib whose unbeaten 32 included two boundaries and Keon Franklyn (23) also got starts on a good track for batting.

Left-arm spinner Madha Dhanpaul (2-11 from six overs) supported Stoll while the off-spin pair of Malteenoes player Vishal Narayan (1-7 from six overs) and GYO’s Ricardo Devers (1-15 from 10 overs) maintained the pressure as like in the CLICO under-17 Inter-County tournament which starts on September 6, the first innings of each side was limited to 65 overs.

When Fazal’s X1 began their reply Delroy Charles was bowled by pacer Kevin Ogle for a duck in the second over with just a run on the board before Seon Daniels continued his good recent form by removing Rajiv Singh (14) and Kerman Singh for a duck to sink Fazal’s X1 hopes of taking a first innings lead.

When the Skipper was run out for 16 and Delon Fernandes (6) was run out after colliding with his partner Kwame Cross just before the close, Solomon’s X1 were large and in charge.

Cross is unbeaten on two and Carlos La Rose is yet to score going into the final day today when play is scheduled to commence at 09:00hrs.

Fernandes, who collapsed in the dressing room after he was helped off the field, was taken to the Woodlands Hospital where an X-Ray indicated that he had suffered no serious injury and his headache was due to a hard hit on his head during the collision.

Since this is a trial match, the left hander could be allowed to bat again today since his dismissal was mainly due to his crash with Cross. Daniels has so far taken 2-18 from six overs while Ogle had 1-13-from six.