Demerara tottering on 69-7 batting a second time

May 07, 2009 Sports

Jonathon Foo

Alex Amsterdam

Andre Stoll

By Sean Devers
Jonathon Foo smashed a destructive 131 before taking 3-21 yesterday to put defending champions Berbice on top against Demerara on the penultimate day of their final round three-day GTM under-19 Inter-County cricket encounter at the Providence Stadium.
Foo benefited from five chances to hit 22 fours and a six in his 131 that spanned 203 minutes and 134 balls. Only left-hander Alex Amsterdam who made a composed 49 (170 minutes, 157 balls with three fours) offered support in a 173-run fifth wicket partnership as Berbice chased Demerara’s 216.
Extras was the only other double-figure contributor as Berbice slumped from 181-4 to 211 all out on a placid pitch and lightning fast outfield as Seon Daniels (3-55), Andre Stoll (3-38) and Totaram Bishun (3-46) conspired to give the host a five-run first innings lead.

However, four days after Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President Chetram Singh expressed disappointment in the quality of batting in the GTM one-day competition, Demerara collapsed to 69-7 by the time bad light stopped play at 17:31hrs.
Demerara have a lead of 74 runs and must win outright today to deny Berbice the title. The hosts will need to be a lot more positive than they were yesterday.
“We only need a draw to retain the title but we are going for a win since we want to be true champions by beating everybody,” said Berbice Coach Adrian Amsterdam.

Berbice beat Essequibo in their first match while Demerara, who conceded first innings in their drawn match in Essequibo, will finish one point ahead of Essequibo in the three-team tournament even if they lose today.
Play began an hour and a half late yesterday due to morning rain and Demerara wasted three opportunities to get rid of the pugnacious Foo. Amsterdam was also dropped after Berbice resumed at 75-4.
Foo took his run tally to 142 runs from three innings at an average of 71, with an array of disdainful drives and dismissive flicks in hazy sunshine. He reached his ton with a crunching drive for four off 16-year-old spinner Ricardo Devers and celebrated with another thunderous boundary to mid-wicket in the same over.
Amsterdam was dropped off leg-spinner Amir Khan on 25 and by lunch Berbice had progressed to 107-4 with Foo on 66 and Amsterdam on 29.

Amsterdam was content to play the supporting role although a cover-drive off Daniels which brought up the 100, reached the boundary like a bullet. Amsterdam was leg before to Stoll at 181-5 to end the partnership which began on Tuesday with Berbice wobbling on 7-4.
Foo was dropped off Khan on 72 and twice off Bishun (109 and 111) and he rode his luck before Daniels held a low, sharp return catch to remove him at 204-6. His demise sparked a dramatic collapse, as Berbice lost their last five wickets for seven runs. Skipper Anthony Bramble (9) was ‘yorked’ by Daniels and Bishun removed Joemal LaFluer (2) and Sahadeo Somai (1) before bowling Trinson Carmichael (0) with Berbice six short of first innings points.

When Demerara batted, Shivgobin, picked as a specialist batsman ahead of Delon Fernandes and Quincy Ovid-Richardson, was promoted to open in place of Trevon Griffith, who injured his thigh while fielding.
Shivgobin (1) was removed by Carmichael at 7-1, while Ryan Rajmangal (5) was brilliantly taken at slip by LaFluer off pacer Keyron Fraser at 9-2.

Delroy Charles, again asked to bat at number three, struggled for 34 balls before he fell to Foo for five at 27-3 and the next three wickets tumbled for five runs to leave Demerara on 37-5.
Naikabarran hit a cameo 20 with three fours, but Solomon laboured for a 15-ball duck and Stoll made four as Somai (2-25) grabbed two wickets and Foo another in quick succession.

Griffith came out at number eight and was intent on just blocking the ball, although a glorious cover-driven four off Somai provided rare entertainment for the handful of fans in a dreary last session. Griffith eventually skied Foo to mid-on after making 11 from 54 balls as Demerara sunk to 64-7. Khan then showed batting ability in his unbeaten 18 and has Daniels (2) as his partner.