Same old story! E’bo crash to 10-wkt defeat in CLICO U-17 opener

Sep 08, 2008 Sports

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By Sean Devers at Enterprise

It was the same old story yesterday as Essequibo, the only team without a title at this level, crashed to an embarrassing 10-wicket defeat against Demerara with over a session to spare on the final day of their two-day CLICO under-17 Inter County cricket encounter at the Enterprise ground. 

Essequibo began the final day with a realistic chance of taking first innings points after a good opening day but after surrendering a slim seven-run lead to the hosts, Essequibo, in all too familiar fashion, crashed from 41-2 to 51 all out leaving Demerara, who fell for 141 in their first innings, 45 to win.

Quincy Ovid with four boundaries in an unbeaten 25 and Shameer Fazal (16) ensured Demerara reached 45 without loss from just 8.4 overs as Essequibo catapulted to defeat before Tea.  This was after left-arm spinner Anthony Adams had finished with 5-39 in the morning session to keep Essequibo in the fight.

The crushing loss comes shortly after the Guyana Cricket Board decided to squash the senior four-day Inter-County tournament because of Essequibo’s inept showing over the years and yesterday’s tactical decisions and strange field placing once again exposed the level of inefficiency by the coaches charged with improving Essequibo’s cricket.

Davindra Mohabir, whose off stumped was sent cart wheeling by left-arm spacer Andre Stoll for 14 and Skipper Dwane Singh who was comprehensively bowled by off-spinner Ricardo Devers for 12, were the only batsmen to reach double figures for Essequibo after first innings hero Herell Greene (8) was leg before to pacer Seon Daniels at 19-1.

West Indies under-15 leg spinner Amir Khan grabbed 3-4 from two overs to finish with 4-34 in the match while Daniels took 2-18 and Stoll 2-19.  Devers took the other wicket to fall to end with 1-4 and 4-32 in the game.   

Watched by another good crowd in steaming heat, Demerara began the day on 92-5 replying to Essequibo’s 134 and quickly lost Kamal Ramkissoon; caught and bowled by Adams at 93-6 before he had added to his overnight 27. Skipper Dexter Solomon (23) and Arif Habib (11) added 36 before Habib was bowled by Rowell Cornelius.

Adams, who took a hat-trick on the first day, bowled Solomon with Demerara still six away with three overs left in their first innings but Daniels (13) and Khan (2) saw their team to first innings points before Khan was run out and Daniels was stumped off Singh, who took 2-20.

Greene, easily the best batsman in the Essequibo line-up, was dropped by Kwame Crosse at cover off Stoll on six and was soon sent packing at 19-1 by Daniels who also bowled Cornelius for a duck two runs later.

By Lunch Essequibo were 27-2 and with the dangerous Greene out of the way, betting boys at the ground were having a field day how soon and for how little Essequibo would fall for after lunch.

Mohabir and Singh offered resistance but once Mohabir departed at 41-3, wickets tumbled in a heap on a pitch and fast outfield that the hard working ground staff, who got assistance from Guyana players and Enterprise Villagers, Zaheer Mohamed and Rajendra Chandrika, should be very proud of.

Rovi Harris collected a ‘double duck’ when he was bowled by Stoll who was on a hat-trick while Khan was also on a hat-trick when he bowled Ryan McAll (1) and had Adams (0) leg before as Essequibo, without Shawn Garraway who could not bat after starting the match with an injured left shoulder, wobbled to 43-6.

Put down by wicketkeeper Solomon off Daniels on five, Singh fell to Devers while Khan removed Rensford Beaton (5) and Kevin Fredericks (2) was run out as the Essequibo innings lasted just 23 overs.

Ovid, not afraid to cut and drive the pacers once they were short or wide, capitalised on Essequibo’s decision to feed him his ‘pet shot’ and three of his boundaries were pugnacious cuts while a scorching cover driven four added to Essequibo’s misery even as the level-headed Fazal, used to open in place of the dogged Ramkissoon, deftly worked the balls into gaps in his supporting knock.

First innings destroyer Adams was not even asked to bowl in the second innings although the openers looked commanding against the pacers.

Coach Vibert Johnson says the batting is his team’s strength and there is some talent in the Essequibo side.
However, if there is not a drastic improvement in the mental and tactical aspects of their game when they battle defending champions Berbice in Berbice from tomorrow in the second  round, the Keon Joseph led Berbice bowling attack could easily blow them away to set up a virtual final from Friday between Berbice and Demerara.

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