Historic Day/Night Inter-County cricket final…Galaxy of stars set to light up Providence on October 3

Sep 24, 2008 Sports

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By Sean Devers
History will be made when Umpires Duncan and Somwaru call ‘play’ at the Guyana National Stadium at 14:30 hrs on Friday October 3 to start Guyana’s first ever ‘official’ cricket match under flood lights and a massive crowd should be a part of what should be a high energy contest in the middle and a party-like atmosphere beyond the boundary.

The El Dorado three-team senior Inter-County 50-overs cricket tournament was officially launched yesterday at the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretariat and Marketing Manager of the GCB Ramsay Ally disclosed that $250,000 will be spent on promoting the tournament with the GCB and DLL combining their efforts to make the highly anticipated event a success.

“We are hoping to have (at least) 5000 in the stadium for the final and tickets cost $500 while Parking will be free. Once the final preliminary round game is finished on Sunday September 28, we will begin a massive campaign to promote the final,” Ally said.

DDL Beverages, foods and plenty of music in the Party Stand will add to the on-field excitement as the two top teams in the competition go head-to-head for the El Dorado title, a trophy and $ 100,000. The Runner-up will take home $50,000 while cash incentives will also be awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in what should be a pulsating final.

The GCB is working to have the game broadcast live by NCN Radio and with the prospects of seeing high-level for the first time under lights, a sell-out crowd could be on hand to watch a galaxy of local stars light up the night sky at Providence.

DDL has pumped half a million dollars more than the $1.5 million they spent last year into this year’s competition but the majority of that funding will be the cost of running the competition which includes the renting of the Stadium and the cost of the lighting which is $50,000 per hour.

The El Dorado competition bowls off on Friday at Everest when defending champions Demerara begin their 2008 campaign against Essequibo, the only team in the history of the tournament not to have claimed championship honours.

Arch-rivals Berbice and Demerara then clash on Saturday at Blairmont in West Berbice in what could be a contest involving the two teams in the final while Essequibo and Berbice square-off in the final preliminary round game at Wales on Sunday.

Demerara and Berbice will both be hoping to return to Providence for their second consecutive final after Demerara, led by half-centuries from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Travis Dowlin and some pugnacious hitting in the closing stages from Derwin Christian, successfully defended their title in the competition’s first final at the Stadium last year.          

Since the lights were installed at Guyana’s premier cricket facility, Music lovers have had the chance to revel on the outfield of the region’s 10th Test venue at several high energy concerts during the CARIFESTA period, while football fans have also had the opportunity of watching football under lights at arguable the fastest drying cricket ground in the West Indies.

Now cricket fans will have a chance to flock to the Stadium to see the first ever ‘official’ night cricket match in Guyana.

With the Anna Regina ground, at which Stanford 20/20 funding was used to improve the Region Two facility, no longer being used to host the Essequibo/Demerara game, hundreds of Essequibains could flock to the stadium if Essequibo, who last beat Demerara in 1980 and Berbice in 1994,  could spring a major surprise and qualify for the final.

Vice-President of the GCB Alvin Johnson explained that the relationship between DDL and the GCB has been ‘long and fruitful’ and stressed that this competition is very important, especially at a time when the 20/20 phenomenon is saturating competition at the club, Association and global levels.

“Fifty overs cricket is still very much alive and strikes a balance between the 20/20 and the two innings format and this competition is very important since it gives the national selectors a chance to look at the players before picking a squad to prepare for the regional one-day competition,” Johnson explained.

This year’s regional 50-overs competition is scheduled for November and Johnson’s daughter, Alana Johnson, the efficient Marketing Assistant of DDL, said that her company was again pleased to be working along with the GCB and like her father, feels that this competition plays a key role in preparing Guyana for the regional One-Day tournament.

“We have put $500,000 more than we did last year and we will be contributing to having the game broadcast live on Radio. Guyana last won the regional title in 2005/06 and this year we hope that the players will be sufficiently equipped after playing in the El Dorado tournament to regain their supremacy at the regional level,” Johnson added.

Alvin Johnson promised the sponsors who were also represented at the launching by senior National Hockey player Maria Munroe, that the GCB will do every conceivable thing to honor their obligation to DDL, the players and the fans.

It is understood that from next week tickets for the much anticipated final will be on sale at DDL outlets around the country while Ally said if the game is well attended the Inter-County 20/20 competition which begins on the weekend of October 23 and which is also sponsored by DDL, could be also played at the Stadium under lights.

With players like New West Indies player Leon Johnson, West Indies under-19 Vice-Captain Steven Jacobs, 20/20 all-rounder Chris Barnwell, Tests players Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Mahendra Nagamootoo all expected to be on show under lights on October 3, the Stadium could be ram packed and rocking since admission is just $500.  

Admission to the opening game at Everest is free while $300 is the cost to see Saturday’s game at Blairmont.

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