CLICO U-17 Inter County cricket series starts today

Sep 06, 2008 Sports

Pulsating battle anticipated as Demerara face E’bo at Enterprise

By Sean Devers
With the youngsters eagerly looking forward to establish themselves as future stars and the motivation to win more important to them than financial rewards at this stage of their careers, competitive cricket is always anticipated at the junior levels.

Andre Stoll

Today, when Demerara battle Essequibo at the Enterprise ground on the East Coast of Demerara in the opening round of the CLICO under-17 Inter-County two-day cricket competition, the rivalry should be intense with both teams brimming with confidence.
Demerara Coach and former Guyana off-spinner Garvin Nedd says his team’s strength is its bowling while Essequibo and Guyana under-15 Coach Vibert Johnson thinks the batting is his team’s strength.
If the coaches are correct then a pulsating affair is anticipated as the Demerara bowlers look to outdo the Essequibo batsmen on a track which is expected to be a good one and an outfield which was cut and being rolled up to yesterday afternoon.
Captaincy could play a crucial role at this level and in Wicketkeeper Dexter Solomon Demerara has a matured, level-headed leader who understands his bowlers strengths and weakness; always an important component during tight situations on the field.
Essequibo’s Skipper, will be expected to lead from the front with the bat against a Demerara attack spearheaded by the lively Seon Daniels and left-arm pacer Andre Stoll with the new ball.

Shawn Garraway

Batsmen Kwame Cross and Vice-Captain Shameer Fazal could both bowl useful medium pace while spin twins Amir Khan, the West Indies under-15 leg-spinner and lanky off-spinner Ricardo Devers could play important roles, especially in the first innings when the overs per side is restricted to 65.
If he bends his back and bowls fast, Daniels could easily be the second quickest bowler in the competition after Berbice’s National under-19 pacer Kevin Joseph while Stoll’s ability to swing the ball could be disconcerting for the Essequibo top order.
Khan, a stand-by for this year’s national under-19 side, has a dangerous googlie while Devers who has matured tremendously since he last played for Demerara at the under-15 level, turns the ball more than most young off-spinners in the country.
On paper the bowling looks formidable but if fast-bowling all rounder Shawn Garraway gets going with his pugnacious hitting, he could easily spoil Demerara’s game plan.
Picked for this year’s national under-15 side, Garraway had to pull out due to Chicken Pox and if he repeats the big hitting exploits he showed in the Essequibo Busta final last week, the Demerara bowlers could be in trouble, even on the large Enterprise ground hosting its first ‘big’ game in years.
Apart from Singh, wicketkeeper Herrel Greene, Jermaine Hohenkirk, Rensford Beaton, Kerron McLennon and Ravindra Mohabir are all expected to contribute with the bat as Essequibo aims to avenge their outright loss to Demerara in last year’s competition.
With five players back from last year’s team, the Essequibo line is experienced as well as talented and Coach Johnson says he is here to just participate but to win.
The burly Garraway and national under-15 pacer Neil Ramalho should lead the Essequibo bowling with support from left-arm spinner Anthony Adams, off-spinner Mohabir and leg spinner McLennon.
Essequibo also posses a host of medium pacers who could bat while left arm pacer Renville Badrinauth and Rovi Harris could also be called into action.

Dexter Solomon

Demerara will want a solid foundation from openers Quincy Ovid and Kamal Ramkissoon while Dayanand Roopnarine, Arif Habib, Fazal, Cross, Solomon, Keon Franklyn and all-rounder Stoll will aim to offer support with the bat.
The contest starts at 10:00hrs and admission to the venue is free while CLICO gifts will be shared among the spectators over the weekend.
Teams (from) Demerara: Dexter Solomon (Captain), Shameer Fazal (V/Captain), Quincy Ovid, Kamal Ramkissoon, Dayanand Roopnarine, Kwame Cross, Arif Habib, Andre Stoll, Amir Khan, Sean Daniels, Ricardo Devers, Keon Franklyn, Medha Dhanpaul, Kamesh Yadram.
Essequibo:-Dwayne Singh (Captain), Herrel Greene (V/Capt), Jermaine Hohenkirk, Rensford Beaton, Royan McCall, Anthony Adams, Ronwell Cornelius, Kevin Fredericks, Ravindra Mohabir, Neil Ramalho, Shawn Garraway, Kevon McLennon, Rovi Harris, Renville Badrinauth