Cross is back as Solomon named Demerara U-17 Captain

Aug 30, 2008 Sports

Dexter Solomon

By Sean Devers
National under-15 Skipper Kwame Cross is back in the fray after being left out of the Georgetown side while Wicketkeeper Dexter Solomon was named Captain when the Demerara selectors announced a 14-man squad and four stand-bys for the CLICO under-17 two-day inter county cricket competition which starts on Saturday.

The squad was announced yesterday afternoon after the final day of the two-day trial match at the Everest ground.

Former national under-15 batsman Shameer Fazal was predictably appointed Vice-Captain of the team which will battle Essequibo at the Enterprise ground in the opening match before they face-off with defending champions in the final round from September 12.

The versatile Cross, who also bowls medium pace, stroked a responsible 32 yesterday before he seemed unfortunate to be given leg before to enhance his chances of selection and then probable convinced the selectors to pick him with an impressive display of wicketkeeping.

The bowling department looks strong the batting could be a worry, especially against the Keon Joseph led Berbice bowling attack.

Demerara under-19 left-hander Delon Fernandes is a surprise omission while the selection of East Coast leg-spinner Kamesh Yadram ahead of another batsman in the 14-man squad is shocking since West Indies under-15 leg-spinner Amir Khan is a certainty to play. Carlos LaRose and Rajiv Singh are not even in the stand-by list.

Solomon has showed level-headedness and leadership ability and should expect support from the experienced Fazal, the lone player from West Demerara in the squad which include one player from East Bank, one from West Demerara, three from East Coast and nine from Demerara Inter-Association champions Georgetown.

Fazal, Kamal Ramkissoon, Dayanand Roopnarine, Quincy Ovid and Solomon will have to carry the batting with support from all-rounders Medha Dhanpaul, Keon Franklyn and Andre Stoll who scored the lone half-century in the trial match.

The bowling will be taken care of by pacer Seon Daniels, left-arm seamer Stoll, Cross, Khan and off-spinner Ricardo Devers. Spin support could be expected from batting all-rounders Fazal and Franklyn.

The team will be managed by Raymond Barton with former Guyana first-class off-spinner Garvin Nedd doing the duties of coach. Practice sessions at the DCC ground from 13:00hrs each day has been organized for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, Fazal’s X1 took first innings points from Solomon’s X1 in their drawn trail match yesterday.

Resuming on 45-5 replying to Solomon’s X1 168-6 off their mandatory 65 overs, Fazal’s X1 reached 176-9 off their 65 overs with Stoll hitting three fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 53 and shared in a half-century stand with Cross for the ninth wicket after their team were in trouble at 78-8.

Royston Simon took 2-17, Yadram 2-11 and Daniels 2-31 for Solomon’s X1 who were 98-9 in their second innings when the match ended with the Skipper unbeaten on 35.

Roopnarine (22) and Ovid (13) were the other batsmen to reach double figures as Charles captured 3-5, Devers 2-7 and leg-spinner Erendro Jaigobin 2-17.

The Demerara 14-man sqaud read:- Dexter Solomon (Captain), Shameer Fazal (V/Captain), Quincy Ovid, Kamal Ramkissoon, Dayanand Roopnarine, Kwame Cross, Medha Dhanpaul, Andre Stoll, Amir Khan, Seon Daniels, Ricardo Devers, Arif Habib, Keon Franklyn, Kamesh Yadram.
Stand-bys: Raj Nanan, Kevin Ogle, Delon Fernandes, Delroy Charles.