Latest update April 9th, 2025 12:59 AM
GCB Senior 4-day Inter County tourney…Singh, Chandrika slam tons for Demerara; GCB Development Squad limits E’bo to 232
By Zaheer Mohamed
On a typically flat Bourda sward, Captain Vishal Singh and opener Rajendra Chandrika produced
Demerara skipper Vishal Singh plays an attacking stroke enroute to his century.
contrasting centuries to put Demerara in a strong position on the opening day of the first round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter-County four-day tournament against archrivals Berbice yesterday.
The home team will resume today on an imposing 320-3 after facing 92 overs with Chandrika on 138 and Christopher Banrwell on two. Singh was dismissed in the final session for 153; he faced 248 balls and hammered 16 fours in 348 minutes.
Having recently won the 50-over tournament, Berbice entered the game high in confidence and pacer Raun Johnson made early inroads after Demerara decided to bat. Johnson had Robin Bacchus (03) caught at square leg attempting to hook with the score on 13 in the fifth over.
He then induced Trevon Griffith (12) to nick a delivery to wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble in the said over leaving the score on 17-2 after the opening session was interrupted for an hour due to rain.
However the day belonged to Singh and Chandrika; the pair frustrated the Berbicians with a third wicket stand of 300 which came off 487 balls and included 32 fours. The duo started cautiously and took their team to lunch at 60-2, with Singh on 21 and Chandrika on 17.
In the post lunch session, both batsmen gradually grew in confidence executing a number of lovely shots on both sides of the pitch off pacers Johnson and Keon Joseph. The right-handed Chandrika took consecutive boundaries off Johnson forcing skipper Narsingh Deonarine to introduce an all-spin attack.
Singh was put down twice off left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, but made the most of his chances to bring up his half century off 93 balls with five fours. Chandrika reached his fifty with a single off 83 balls with eight handsome boundaries.
The pair continued to gather runs patiently, carefully rotating the strike and was quick to pounce on the bad balls. Singh stroked Deonarine to cover for a couple before hitting him down the ground for a boundary while Chandrika drove Deonarine through covers and cut Joseph to the point boundary, adding 160 in the post lunch session.
Singh continued to gather runs almost untroubled, driving Permaul through covers for four before hitting Joseph to long-off ropes. The left handed Georgetown Cricket Club batsman attained his well deserved century from 152 balls with 13 fours.
Chandrika hardly encountered any nervous moments, taking boundaries off Joseph, Johnson and Permaul as he continued to pile up runs. He soon reached his century off 248 balls with 16 boundaries. Demerara added 100 in the final session, but Berbice, can at least take one positive going into the second day today; Johnson uprooted the stumps of Singh after he had scored 153 just before the close.
Demerara skipper Vishal Singh plays an attacking stroke enroute to his century
Johnson, the most impressive of the Berbice bowlers, finished with 3-55 from 15 overs. Meanwhile, in the other first round game being played at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, the GCB Developmental Squad closed the opening day on 60-1 in reply to 232 made by Essequibo. Seon Hetmyer is not out on 24 and Chanderpaul Hemraj on 15. Tagenarine Chanderpaul was the wicket to fall; bowled by Anthony Adams for 11.
Earlier, Ricardo Adams stroked an attacking 56 while Ricardo Peters scored 44 to lead Essequibo’s batting after they elected to take first strike. They added 80 for the third wicket after Essequibo lost Royan Fredericks (09) and Kevon Boodie (06). Adams smashed six fours and four sixes while facing 51 balls before he was dismissed, while Peters reached the boundary eight times; he faced 103 balls.
Brian Hubert and Mark Gonsalves featured in an eight wicket stand of 49 to beef up their team’s total. Hubert clobbered four fours and one six before he went for 31 while Gonsalves hit one four and a six in his 29. Steven Sankar was the pick of the bowlers with 4-36; Kellon Carmichael snared 3-50, Kemo Paul 2-8 and Steven Jacobs 1-66. Both games resume today at 09:30 hrs.
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