Latest update February 10th, 2025 2:25 PM
Raj Singh U-19 Inter-County Cricket …Hetmyer hits 41 as B’ce take first innings points from E’bo
By Sean Devers
In sultry conditions on a placid Enmore track, a 48-run second wicket partnership between Shemron Hetmyer and Balchand Baldeo helped Berbice to first innings points against Essequibo on the opening day of the third and final round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Raj Singh Insurance Inter County three-day under-19 tournament yesterday.
Three’s Company! Grisean Grant, Kassim Khan & Leon Andrews picked up three wickets each.
Hetmyer, an 18-year-old West Indies youth player followed his second round century at Bourda with an attacking 41 while Baldeo contributed 36 in their stand after Baldeo and Leon Andries (19) had shared in explosive 42-run opening partnership from just four overs to lift Berbice to 196-6 from 40 overs by the close despite a three-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Akeeni Adams.
This was in reply to Essequibo’s 139 all out from a Lunch time score of 94-2 as only opener Parmesh Parsoton (47), West Indies Under-19 All-Rounder Kemo Paul (30) and Nathan Persaud (17) got into double figures.
Grisean Grant (3-14), Leon Andries (3-30) and Kassim Khan (3-34) were the architects of destruction for Berbice, who enjoys a lead of 55 runs going into today’s second day. Berbice, only needing a draw to dethrone title holders Demerara, won the toss and asked Essequibo to bat on the fast outfield and once again their openers looked solid in their first wicket stand to build a solid foundation for the lads from Guyana’s largest County.
After Andrews had Persaud caught and bowled, Paul joined Parsoton and dominated the partnership with a shot filled 20-ball 30 which was decorated with five scorching fours and a towering six. But his ultra aggressive innings and the manner of his dismissal; caught off a skier off Khan, suggested that he had miss-read the situation of the game.
By Lunch Essequibo were still in a comfortable position at 94-2 with the Parsoton batting responsibly. But once Khan removed Parsoton caught at slip in what looked like a slip catching practice session after he reached the boundary four times and cleared it once in his 126-minute and 119-ball knock, the flood gates were flung wide open and the next five wickets tumbled for four runs.
Four wickets fell with the score on 102 as pacer Grant, who produced excellent lateral movement off the seam, and Andrews who bowled with good control, polished off the tail although Looknauth Chinkoo offered token resistance with an unbeaten nine.
When Berbice began their innings they were off to a ‘flyer’ before the left-handed Andrews who seemed prepared to ‘stand and deliver’ in Chris Gayle-like fashion, smashed four bullet-like boundaries before he was dismissed by bespectacled fast bowler Denzil Harry, who resides in Florida USA and looks a good prospect.
By the Tea Berbice had galloped to 51-1 from just five overs as Baldeo and Hetmyer tucked into the bowling with increasing relish before Adams broke the partnership by trapping Baldeo LBW at 90-2.
It was soon 114-4 when Hetmyer fell to Adams after he had sent back Samuel Kishamasammy (6) at 109-3. Clifton Lindie hit five fours in an attractive 41 and along with Parmanand Ramdhan who batted aggressively, repaired the damage with an entertaining sixth wicket stand to take the score to 149-5 before Keanu Harry trapped Ramdhan LBW.
Chinkoo removed the dangerous Lindie at 193-6 just before the close with Adams being the main wicket-taker so far with 3-29.
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