Pepsi Inter-County 50-over cricket starts today at Bourda

Sep 21, 2013 Sports

E’bo look to upset defending Champs Demerara

By Sean Devers
Defending champions Demerara will start as huge favorites when they battle Essequibo today in the opening round of this year’s Pepsi senior Inter-County 50-over cricket tournament at the GCC ground Bourda from 09:30hrs.

Christopher Barnwell

Essequibo have not beaten Demerara at this level since 1980 and today they hunt an upset win against the team from Guyana’s smallest but most populated County in their own backyard.
In its 22nd year under DDL’s sponsorship and the first under the Pepsi brand the competition is only being played in two of Guyana’s three counties this year unlike in all three Counties in years gone by. This year, only the Final is scheduled for Berbice.
Essequibo, who sprung a surprise win against Berbice in 1994 at Blairmont, could find things harder this year since only the county teams are involved with the Rest team being omitted for financial reasons.
Led by Chris Barnwell the host team is a powerful one with three players who represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the recent CPL tournament in which Guyana finished as runners up.
Barnwell, who also played in the IPL in India, Vice-Captain Steven Jacobs and Trevon Griffith are the others who played in the CPL. Most of the other players have been around Demerara senior teams for a while now.
The 14-man squad has six openers in the top order while even Barnwell and Jacobs are opening batsmen at the club level.
There was sweltering heat in the city over the last few days and Bourda should be dry and fast. If the track is

Steven Jacobs

the usual Bourda pitch a big total is anticipated if Demerara bats first.
Griffith, Shemroy Barrington, Rajendra Chandrika, Robin Bacchus, Andrew Lyght Jr and Wicketkeeper Derwin Christian have all opened for Guyana while Zaheer Mohamed, Shaquille Williams, Kelon Carmichael, Andre Stoll and Paul Wintz could all contribute with the bat.
Wintz and left-arm pacer Stoll could share the new ball but off-spinner Jacobs is also an option. Carmichael could offer pace support.
Spinners Jacobs, Williams, Mohamed and former West Indies under-19 leg spinner Amir Khan are expected to do the bulk of the bowling for the home side.
Essequibo will depend on left-handed Skipper Royan Fredericks, Vishwanauth Lall and Ricardo Adams who scored the only century in the recently held ECB 50 overs competition, to carry their batting.
Wicketkeeper Kevin Boddie, Herry Green, Vijai Surujpaul, Kemo Paul, Dellon Heyliger and teenager Ricardo Peters, who could consider himself unlucky to left out of this year’s National under-19 team, are expected to lend support with the bat for the lads from the Cinderella County.
Essequibo’s bowling could be their strength. New ball bowlers Mark Tyrell, who captured a four-wicket against Berbice in last year’s four-day competition and Gilford Moore, who has played at the regional level for CCC, form a potent combination.
Anthony Adams and off-spinner Jason Heyliger will spearhead the spin attack and it is hoped that spectators turn out to watch this match.
Demerara Squad: Christopher Barnwell (Captain), Steven Jacobs (Vice Captain), Trevon Griffith, Robin Bacchus, Andrew Light Jr., Rajendra Chandrika, Shemroy Barrington, Derwin Christian, Zaheer Mohamed, Amir Khan, Andre Stoll, Paul Wintz, Kelon Carmichael, Shaquille Williams, (Coach) Orin Bailey, (Manager) Robert Adonis
Essequibo Squad: Royan Fredericks (Capt), Anthony Adams (vice Capt.), Kevon Boddie, Ricardo Peters, Ricardo Adams, Herry Greene, Mark Tyrell, Vishwanauth Lall, Sheldon Alexander, Vijai Surujpaul, Kemo Paul, Jason Heyliger, Dellon Heyliger, Gilford Moore, (Coach) Vibert Johnson, (Manager) Aotto Christiani.