Hand-in-Hand 3-day Inter-County U-19 Cricket... U-17s and Berbice locked in tight battle for 1st inns points

Hand-in-Hand 3-day Inter-County U-19 Cricket… U-17s and Berbice locked in tight battle for 1st inns points

Apr 19, 2018 Sports

Berbice’s Leon Swamy goes big in a 50-run last wicket stand at Everest.

By Sean Devers
A couple of half-century partnerships rallied Berbice to 176 before the National U-17s ended the opening day of their final round Hand-in-Hand three-day Inter County U-19 contest at Everest 100 runs in arrears with six wickets in hand on another day when ball dominated bat on a slow but good batting track which offered some turn for the spinners.
In sweltering heat, Berbice elected to bat and slumped to 55-5 before a 53-run stand between Steve Deonarine (14) and Trevon Stanislaus, who made 47 with six fours and two sixes, halted the slid.
Another 50-run last wicket stand between Leon Swamy, who blasted three sixes and a four in a pugnacious 47 and Karan Arjpaul (10*) ensured the Berbicians got past 150.
Sheldon Charles (3-20) and leg spinner Niron Bissu (2-12) were the best bowlers for the U-17s who were 76-4 when bails were lifted.
National U-19 opener Alex Algoo (1) was taken at cover as Charles struck a crucial blow for the U-17s at 3-1 before Sylvon Williams removed Javid Karim (6) at 16-2.
Charles then removed the in-form Junior Sinclair (12) at 33-3, while Kevin Sinclair (11) was caught behind off Charles at 48-4 and when Kelvon Anderson was bowled by off-spinner Seon Glasgow for 22 with three boundaries at 55-5, Berbice, who has not won the title since 2015, were in deep trouble.

erbice’s last man Karan Arjpaul edges Sheldon Charles (3-20) just short of the Keeper in a last wicket stand of 50 with Leon Swamy at Everest.

However, Deonarine and Stanislaus halted the slide by taking the score to 108 before Deonarine, who played the supporting role, was trapped in front by Andre Seepersaud before the attacking Stanislaus departed eight runs later.
Bissu picked up two wickets with the score on 126 and the U-17s were back in the picture but poor bowling and the insistence of Singh not bringing back Charles for a second spell after he bowled six impressive overs in the first session, let Berbice off the hook.
Swamy, a no nonsense left-hander, found a useful partner in Arjpaul who batted with a very sound technique, joined forces before with three minutes left to Tea, Swamy was taken by skipper Sachin Singh at short cover playing an uppish drive off Gevon Schultz.
The U-17s began their reply after the break and lost the correct looking Mavendra Dindyal (3) when he gloved an out of character hook at Anderson and was taken down the leg side by Junior Sinclair at 7-1.
Andrew Samaroo (5) top edged a lobbed catch to the Keeper as Umroa, on the back of the seven-wicket haul in the last round, struck at 22-2 before Windies U-16 Captain Singh was bowled by Kevin Sinclair after batting for over an hour for a sedate 15.

Kevlon Anderson was bowled by Sean Glasgow at Everest yesterday.

Glasgow (18) joined Seepersaud at 34-3 and took the score to 62, but just when the partnership was gaining momentum Glasgow was run out.
Schultz (1) and Seepersaud (25) saw their team to the close with still a lot of work to be done today if they hope to deny Berbice first innings which would give them the title.