GCB Senior Inter County 50-Overs Berbice trounce Nat. U-19s; Demerara squeeze past E’bo

Sep 05, 2014 Sports

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By Zaheer Mohamed
Berbice thumped the National Under-19 team by 105 runs while Demerara got past Essequibo by two wickets when the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter County 50-Overs tournament commenced yesterday.
A fluent 81 from opener Kandasammy Surujnarine and a well crafted 54 from Devon Clements guided Berbice to a challenging 278-7 off their allotted overs after they decided to bat at Everest Cricket Club ground in the city.
The National U-19 team which replaced the President’s XI were sent packing for 173 in 48.3 overs in reply with talented all rounder Keemo Paul scoring a fighting 47. Man-of-the-match Surujnarine and Seon Hetymer added 28 for the opening stand before the latter was trapped leg before by Paul for eight.
Surujnarine was then joined by Clements and the pair frustrated their opponents with a second wicket stand of 101 with level headed batting on a pitch which favoured the batsmen. The duo rotated the strike admirably before unleashing some lusty blows.
Surujnarine drove Paul to mid off and cut him through point for boundaries and Clements struck off spinner Balchan Baldeo who partnered Paul with the new ball, to midwicket and long on for fours.
Clements then dumped leg-spinner Steven Sankar and Damion Waldron for maximums, but Sankar provided his team with breakthrough when he sent back Clements soon after the batsman reached his half century off 78 balls, cracking three fours and two sixes.
Surujnarine continued to play his shots and featured in a third wicket stand of 36 with skipper Narsingh Deonarine. He deposited Sankar over long off and also cleared the ropes off Waldron but, Waldron then produced a beauty – one that straightened after pitching and it took the top of off stump.
Surujnarine innings contained six fours and two maximums and came off 95 balls. Deonairne hit two fours before he was superbly caught and bowled by Waldron for 24 at 210-4. Following the demise of Anthony Bramble (03), Jonathan Foo and Veerasammy Permaul provided the impetus for their team in the closing stages of the innings.
Foo hit two fours in scoring a rapid 30 while Permaul belted one four and two sixes before he was dismissed for 31 off the final delivery. Waldron was the pick of the bowlers with 2-33 while Paul, Sankar and Mohamed had one each.
The National U-19 team never looked threatening following the dismissal of Shimron Hetmyer (09) at 14-1. Just after hitting Keon Joseph to the mid wicket boundary, Hetmyer flicked the pacer into the hands of square leg.
Brain Sattaur (00) was then caught off Raun Johnson before Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Paul added 31 for the third wicket. Chanderpaul took boundaries off Joseph and Johnson, but soon edged Krishundat Ramoo to wicketkeeper Bramble for 21 (3×4). Baldeo (00) was needlessly run out while Ashkay Homraj (10) was caught at deep midwicket leaving their team in trouble at 68-5. Ronaldo Mohamed and Kemol Savory steadied the chase somewhat with a stand of 45. Mohamed dumped Gudakesh Motie Kanhai for a six and drove Ramoo to long off but was then bowled by Kanhai for 28 while Savory lost his stumps to Deonarine for 20.
Paul, who had earlier retired hurt, took the attack to the bowlers; he struck Permaul through cover before smashing Ramoo over long off fence. The right hander then dumped Deonarine for another maximum but was then stumped off the said bowler; his innings lasted for 64 balls and contained three fours and a similar number of sixes.
The rest of the batsmen hardly troubled the score as Deonarine snared 3-26 and Ramoo 3-37.
Over at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, Essequibo was restricted to 152, batting first against Demerara.
Openers Kevon Boodie and Norman Fredericks gave them a solid start with stand of 61 but after Fredericks was dismissed for 12, the Essequibians suffered a collapse which saw them being bowled out in 31.2 overs. Boodie slammed 42 (6×4) while Hemchand Persaud chipped in with 26 (1×4 2×6). Steven Jacobs grabbed 4-32 and Zaheer Mohamed 3-16.
In reply Demerara were cruising at 93-0 at one stage with Trevon Griffith and Andrew Lyght Jnr. Batting. But after Griffith went for 47 (8×4 1×6) the home team experienced a collapse which saw them being reduced to 138-7, losing six wickets for 45 runs.
It was then left to Shemroy Barrington (10*) and Paul Wintz (06*) to guide their side to safety in 28.4 overs. Lyght had earlier made 38 (7×4) and Robin Bacchus 16. Left arm spinner Anthony Adams bagged 5-38 and Ricardo Adams 3-19.
The competition continues tomorrow with Berbice facing Demerara at Wales and the National U-19s playing Essequibo at Demerara Cricket Club ground.

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