Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
UG are GCA/NHSF second division champs
Despite conceding first innings points, University of Guyana (UG) defeated Transport Sports Club (TSC) by one wicket to win the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association/Noble House Sea Foods second division two-day final which concluded yesterday at Malteenoes Sports Club.
Members of the victorious UG team with their accolades. GCA head Roger Harper is standing at extreme right.
In reply to TSC first innings score of 285, UG resumed on their overnight 167-8 and were bowled out for 176. Siddique Mohamed was run out for 34, while Keron Seenarine was lbw to Joel Spooner for 18, while Lloyd George remained not out on 15. Devaughn Nandan claimed 4-26, Spooner 2-29 and Kevin Ross 2-44.
Leading by 109, TSC were sent packing for 126 in 38 overs just before lunch, leaving UG 236 for victory with a minimum of 45 overs remaining, and they achieved the target in the final over for the loss of nine wickets.
TSC second innings began disastrously- they lost Charwayne McPherson (09), Ryan Hemraj (10), Spooner (07) and Devaughn Nandan (04) to slip to 37-4. Sunil Singh and skipper Shawn Massiah added 68 for the fifth wicket to extend their lead. Singh, who scored 86 in the first innings, timed the ball well, hitting seven fours before he was taken off Leon Williams for 55. After Massiah went for 29 (2×4) no other batsman reached double figures as Omesh Danram captured 3-15 to finish with match figures of 7-89, while Williams had 2-6, Mohamed 2-39 and Lloyd George 2-48.
Williams was run out for nine while Nandan removed Keron Seenarine for seven as UG slipped to 16-2, batting a second time before Melroy Stephenson and Mahendra Persaud took the score to 42. Stephenson cracked three fours but was taken off Ross for 28 just as he began to look threatening. Ross then removed Michael Shallim (00) as TSC sustained dominance. But Danram and Mahendra Persaud kept their team in the hunt with a fifth wicket stand of 105 with sensible batting. Danram who was given a let off early on, batted beautifully; he smashed ten fours and four sixes, an innings that changed the course of the match. He was severe on spinner Spooner smashing him for three consecutive sixes and also took boundaries off Massiah and Franchot Duncan.
However, off-spinner Azeez had him caught and bowled off his first ball for 87 with the score at 140 before Persaud was run out for 17. Darnell Douglas hammered two sixes before he went for 20 while Devon George struck 34 to take UG closer to their target, but the experienced Ross brought TSC back into the contest with the wicket of George. However Level-headed batting by Mohamed and Lloyd George inched their team within sights of victory, and with three needed off the final over, the pair scampered two before Mohamed was needlessly run out for 17. But George (21*) held his nerves as he drove Ross through covers for a single to give his team a hard-fought victory off the penultimate ball of the match. Ross and Azeez finished with three wickets each. Danram was named man of the match.
Gavin Sookdeo of Everest (7-16 vs GNIC) was the competition’s best bowler, Khemraj Ramdeen of Everest (161 no vs GNIC) batsman with the highest score, Trevon France of GYO (25) most wickets, Dennis Squires of DCC (290) most runs, Adrian Hinds of TSC (11) most dismissals by a wicket-keeper, MVP zone A was France, zone B Ramdeen, C Sunil Singh and D Lloyd George.
Danram highest score of the final (87), Nandan most wickets (4) and Charwayne McPherson best fielder (4 catches) were all rewarded.
President of the GCA Roger Harper thanked the sponsors and congratulated both teams for their efforts. He lauded UG, adding that their victory shows that education and sports can go hand –in-hand. He said that their victory will serve as a motivation for those who are involved in sports and furthering their studies.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Deeply concerned about political dysfunction in society
Dear Editor The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is deeply concerned about the political dysfunction in society that is... more
Haiti: Tragically Descending into Deeper Crisis
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- As gang violence spirals out of control in Haiti, the limitations of international... more
Weekend Cartoon
