By Sean Devers
A magnificent unbeaten 177 from opener Balchand Baldeo spurred Berbice to an emphatic innings and two runs victory over Essequibo with over a day to spare in the GCB under-19 three-day final round inter-county cricket contest at Everest yesterday.
Balchand Baldeo drives yesterday during his magnificent unbeaten 177 for Berbice at Everest
Scores: E’bo (122-9 inns closed & 215), Berbice (339)
Watched by a handful of fans on a day blessed with brilliant sunshine Berbice resumed the second day on 168-5 with Baldeo on 65 and Hakeem Hinds on two.
The pair took the score to 247-6 with a wonderfully constructed 95-run sixth wicket stand before Hinds was run out for 41.
Baldeo, a correct right-hander from Albion played several elegant shots before he was left high and dry 16 short of the highest score by any batsman at this level (193 by Leon Johnson) when the Berbice innings ended on the stroke of Lunch.
Baldeo faced 225 balls, reached the boundary 12 times and cleared it five times in the highest score in this year’s tournament. Off-spinner Akil Wallace, who finished with 14 wickets in the competition, followed up his 10-wicket haul against the President’s X1, with 4-104.
When Essequibo began their reply they were given a solid 57-run foundation by Ricardo Peters and Avenash Persaud, who both made 24. Shivendra Himraj (5) was run out as Essequibo slipped to 63-3and then 76-5. By Tea, Essequibo, who have blown hot and cold in this tournament, were 100-5.
However, second round centurion Kemo Paul continued his fine form with the bat and along with Travis Drakes, who slammed seven fours in 35, took the score to 158 before Drakes fell to Baldeo.
Nobody else offered any support to Paul who was ninth out for 76 from 113 balls with nine fours and two sixes.
Keanu Harry, who did not bat in the first innings due to exams, was struck on his finger while fielding and batted last yesterday. David Latchya took 4-8, while Arif Khan took 2-13 for Berbice.