North Essequibo defeated Wakenaam by 28 runs to win the final of the Neal and Massy Essequibo Zone first division nationwide 40 overs cricket competition yesterday at the Wakenaam Community Centre Ground.
North batted first and made 209 all out in 39 overs. Navin Bahadur top scored with 58 while Rajiv Manichand supported with 35 and Elroy Stephney 26 as former Guyana U-15 pacer Oyono Sampson grabbed 5-37 off 7.3 overs and off spinner Nazeer Mohamed 2-42 off 8 overs.
Wakenaam in reply scored 181 all out in 36 overs. Opener Varounie Sasepaul was their leading run getter with 61 while Sampson returned with the bat to score 27.
Uvindra Balgobin took 4-22 off 8 overs, Mark Jyrell 2-32 off 5 overs and Safraz Ally 3-34 from 6.4 overs for the winners.
North will now play the winner from the Berbice Zone in the next round.
(Zaheer Mohamed)