Latest update November 8th, 2024 12:17 AM
Demerara crush B’ce by 71 runs
Dowlin, Chandrika, Sarwan hit fifties
By Sean Devers
Travis Dowlin, Rajendra Chandrika and Ramnaresh Sarwan registered half-centuries as Demerara crushed Berbice by 71 runs at Bourda yesterday in their opening game in the El Dorado 50-over inter county cricket competition.
The experience of Dowlin (72) and the youthful talent of Chandrika (54) added 129 for the first wicket before they were both run out while Skipper Sarwan (57), Leon Johnson (25) and Shiv Chanderpaul (19) weighed in with breezy cameo’s towards the end of the innings to help Demerara to an imposing 258-5 off their allotted 42 overs in the rain affected contest.
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Travis Dowlin
Narsingh Deonarine returned to form with 55 but only Royston Crandon (51) and Skipper Assad Fudadin (28) of the other batsmen reached 15 as Berbice, who beat Essequibo in their opening match on Saturday at Blairmont, were bowled out for 187 in 36 overs.
After a late start caused by morning showers delayed the start of play, Dowlin and Chandrika, who should represent the West Indies High Performance Centre (HPC) in next week’s regional 50-over competition in Jamaica, batted solidly on a slow track and heavy outfield against the new ball pair of Esuan Crandon and West Indies under-19 pacer Keon Joseph who bowled impressively before they were both run out.
The 33-year-old Dowlin, a veteran of the national senior team since 1997, played an array of lovely shots and hit four fours and 3 sixes in his 66-ball 72 before he departed at 129. Chandrika, who played the supporting role to Dowlin in their entertaining partnership, faced 88 balls and hit a solitary boundary in his 54 before he fell at 142-2.
Sarwan looked in total control against an attack relying too much on part-time off-spinner Royston Crandon who was again Berbice’s most expensive bowler while Deonarine was also expensive in his 4 overs as Sarwan and later Johnson, whose 25 came from just 11 balls and was decorated with 2 fours and 2 sixes, took heavy toll on the spin.
Chanderpaul hit a six and a four in his quick 19 while Chris Barnwell (13) chipped in for the home team in sunny conditions.
When Berbice began their reply, Sewnarine Chattergoon got going with a pulled boundary off Kellon Carmichael in the first over before debutant under-19 left-arm pacer Andre Stoll forced the Test left-hander to hit a short ball to short mid-wicket to leave the score on 5-1 in the 2nd over.
Richard Ramdeen, who scored a ton on Saturday in Berbice, was soon bowled by Carmichael at 7-2 to leave the visitors in early trouble. Deonarine who got off the mark with a spanking straight driven boundary off Carmichael and Fudadin tried to consolidate the position with a carefully constructed 74-run 3rd wicket stand before off-spinner Steven Jacobs removed Fudadin at 81-3.
Jacobs, who bowled at the right pace for the slow track and not too fast to end with 2-37 from 7 overs, soon forced Deonarine, who faced 66 balls and hit 3 fours in his 55, to top edge a catch for the Keeper to hold as Berbice slipped to 119-4.
Rajendra Chandrika
Royston Crandon counterattacked and was severe on Barnwell who bowled too many shorts balls at the right-hander on the docile track and his 51 lasted just 50 balls and included 2 fours and a six before he was dismissed by Carmichael who finished with 4-38 from 8 overs.
Stoll bowled a nice length and never really allowed the batsmen to drive as he took 2-27 from 8 overs and Jonathon Foo’s inability to score rapidly against the short ball, even on the placid surface, was exposed as all of the pacers bowled short at him as he laboured for 18 balls for his 14 before he was deceived and bowled by a Barnwell to effectively end the Berbice run chase.
Demerara will face Essequibo on Wednesday as the Essequibo Island of Wakanaam makes it debut as a senior Inter-county venue before the top 2 teams clash in the final at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
A lesson from the bread lines of America
…Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- If the American elections of 2024 delivered any one lesson to the rest of the world, it... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
