Latest update January 1st, 2025 1:00 AM
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Sarwan-led Demerara face Essequibo from today in Anna Regina
Rest Team battle Berbice at DCC
Trevon Garraway
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Ryan Ramdass
By Sean Devers
In association with Arabian Hotel
& Bryden & Fernandes
Essequibo fans have waited five years for the chance to see their team play a 4-day senior inter-county cricket match at home and a large crowd is expected from today at the Anna Regina ground as Essequibo face Demerara in the opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board senior 4-day competition.
While the crowd should be behind the Essequibo team, the prospects of a batting feast from the Ramnaresh Sarwan-led Demerara side should be plenty of incentive for Essequibians to turn out in their numbers, especially since admission is free.
While the Anna Regina track is not the most conducive pitch in the world for playing through the line, if Sarwan gets going and gets support from West Indies ODI left-hander Leon Johnson, former West Indies under-19 batsman Rajendra Chandrika, Guyana opener Shemroy Barrington, Chris Barnwell, Gajanand Singh and Steven Jacobs, the Essequibians could find themselves chasing leather for long periods.
While Essequibo continue to struggle at this level their bowling attack is not bad and if National pacer Trevon Garraway gets support from the hyper-active Trevor Benn with the new and the spinners-Andrew Williams, Anthony Adams, Skipper Ramesh Narine- it should not be a one-sided contest.
Former Guyana under-19 fast bowler Leon Scott and Barnwell should open the bowling for the visitors with Vice-Captain Zaheer Mohamed leading the spin attack.
Left-arm spinner Damien Vantull, who left Berbice cricket to take the most wickets in the only 2-day competition in Demerara this season, should offer excellent support to Mohamed while leg-spinners Troy Gonsalves, Sarwan and Johnson could also bowl.
Jacobs could also bowl off-spin and if the veteran Narine and young guns Norman Fredericks, Mohindra Boodram, Yougeshwar Lall, Latchman Rohit and Dillon Heyliger along with Nazeer Mohamed and Anthony Persaud, fail to deliver Essequibo could be hard pressed to avoid another outright defeat.
The Inter-County 4-day competition was quashed last year due to the consistent poor performance from Essequibo and the Essequibians will be keen to salvage at least a draw to justify their reintroduction into the premier cricket competition in Guyana.
Meanwhile, the Rest Team come up against Berbice at DCC in the City in today’s other game and the players in that side will be keen to show their worth as the Guyana selectors monitor this tournament before picking the Guyana teams for regional action.
If the Demerara batting looks powerful on paper, the Berbice line-up is even more ominous.
Test left-handers Narsingh Deonarine and Sewnarine Chattergoon lead the Berbice batting while on his day Assad Fudadin is one of the most naturally talented batsmen in the region.
With the all-round ability of national bowlers Esuan Crandon, Davendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul in the lower order the Rest team bowlers will need to be ‘spot on’ to avoid being taken for plenty on the very small and fast ground.
National under-19 pacer Seon Daniels and former Guyana U-19 quickie Keon Fraser will want an early break through while spinners Steven Latcha, Sauid Drepaul, Alex Amsterdam and Deon Ferrier could have a lot of work to do.
National Keeper Derwin Christian leads the Rest side and with players like in-form former Test opener Ryan Ramdass, West Indies U-19 selectee Trevon Griffith, Richard Ramdeen, Ferrier, first-class left-hander Vishal Singh and Drepaul in the line-up, the Rest team packs enough batting fire-power to cause problems for all of the opposing bowlers in the 4-team competition.
The Berbice bowling attack will include 17-year-old exciting fast bowling prospect Keon Joseph and Brendon Bess, the 2 quickest bowlers in the country. The experienced Crandon and spinners Permaul, Bishoo and Deonarine give Berbice a balanced team and a good contest is anticipated.
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