President’s X1 advance to semis

Nov 21, 2011 Sports

The Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) President’s X1 advanced to the semi-finals of the Carib/Pepsi Big Smash t20 cricket competition when they defeated the North Essequibo Warriors at the Everest ground yesterday afternoon.

Elton Baker

Amir Khan

The President’s X1 now joins Mario Pizza West Berbice and Church’s Chicken Corentyne Titans as the teams in Friday’s semis at Albion, while the final semi-final team will be known today after Gizmos & Gadgets Georgetown Pitbulls and the Nobel House Young Conquerors battle each other for 10:00hrs at Everest.
The first scheduled match yesterday between the Pitbulls and the Young Conquerors was washed out due to inadequate ground staff resulting in the pitch being wet from a heavy mid-morning shower and only two grounds-men being available to re-cover the pitch.
West Indies under-19 leg-spinner Amir Khan took 3-28 from four overs, while former National under-19 pacer Leon Scott supported with 2-11 from four overs as the Essequibo line-up were bowled out for 94 in 19.4 overs on a slow track and good outfield.
Norman Fredericks top scored with 26 while Herrel Greene (25) and Yogeshwar Lall (22) all failed to build on good starts for the Essequibo side in brilliant sunshine.
The lads from the Cinderella County never gave up and the match was heading for a pulsating finish with one needed to win from the final ball with the last pair at the crease before the President’s X1 sneaked in a thrilling one-wicket, last ball win.
Elton Baker followed up his 106 against the Young Conquerors with a top score of 39 and received support from Jeetendra Sookdeo (26) and Renwick Batson (24) after Skipper and National player Vishaul Singh was one of three run out victims in the innings before he had scored.
Royan Fredericks captured 3-18 from four overs, while Lall had 1-10 from four overs and National under19 left-arm spinner Anthony Adams 1-16 off two overs.
After Friday’s Semi-finals in a double header at Albion, the final will be played under floodlights at the same venue on December 3.