Rutherford leads Everest to comprehensive victory

-Brainstreet U-15 competition

By Neil Barry

Everest Cricket Club’s Sherfane Rutherford struck 93 and picked up 5 for 19 to lead his side to an 186-run victory over Bel Air Texaco when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Brainstreet competition continued yesterday at Camp Road.

In all Rutherford struck 10 fours and 2 sixes and faced 110 balls before falling seven runs short of a century.

His score propelled Everest to 244 all out in 51.4 overs despite Antonio Rooplall (33) being the only other batsman to pass 15.

For Bel Air Texaco, Akshay Rampersaud picked up 3 for 36 and Ganesh Balkaran 3 for 44. In their turn at the crease Bel Air Texaco were skittled out for 58 with 25 of those runs coming in extras. Rutherford’s bowling effort was supported by Joshua Mohabir’s 2 for 5 and Sayyid Rahim’s 2 for 15.

At the GNIC ground, Georgetown Cricket Club’s Ronaldo Ali Mohamed also fell agonizingly close to a 100 as he blasted GCC to a 165-run victory over Transport Sports Club. En route to a quick fire 95 in just 55 balls faced in 68 minutes, Ali Mohamed struck 10 sixes and 3 fours, perishing in attempting to hit the 11th six to bring up his hundred. Earlier in their innings Samuel McKenzie and Raymond Perez gave GCC a solid start with 31 and 21 respectively to lay the base for their team’s score of 222 all out in 41.3 overs.

A four-wicket haul from TSC’s Reon Sumair (4 for 34 from 9.3 overs) proved in vain.
Shamar Graham, who supported the cause with 24, and returned to take 5 for 21 from 7 overs as GCC ran through the Transport line up, routing them for 55 in 17.2 overs.
At the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) ground,

Demerara Cricket Club’s B team notched up their third consecutive victory inflicting the third straight defeat on Malteenoes Sports Club.

Despite an improved performance from their batsmen, Malteenoes could not defend the 172-6  they made in their allotment of 55 overs. For MSC, Stephen Mangal scored 40 and captain Dale DeMendonca struck an even 50 to take MSC to their highest score to date in this year’s competition. DCC only lost five wickets on their way to victory thanks to 58 from Ronaldo Renee, 22 from Clevon McEwan and 41 not out from Timothy McCalmont.

On Tuesday DCC B comprehensively defeated GCC by 9 wickets. Batting first GCC scored 10 for 157 in 49.5 overs as only Raymond Perez (40), Tariq Dharamlall (39) and Samuel McKenzie (17) passed fifteen. Tidy bowling from Xaviee Smith (10-2-20-2) and Laurel Parks (6-1-11-2) helped restrict GCC before their openers Ronaldo Renee (54) and Clevon McEwan (52*) each struck half centuries to ensure victory in 49.2 overs.

Queen’s College remained unbeaten in their third game to register victory against the GCA Ladies. Batting first QC was restricted to 169 all out in 35.1 overs as Joanne Vansertima collected 4 for 17 from  9.1 overs. For QC, Vivekash Persaud (39), Amil Alli (33), Denesh Singh (20) and Shameer Khan (17) failed to convert good starts against the Ladies.

Jayadev Mana collected 6 wickets for 11 runs in 9.2 overs to continue his good bowling form in this edition of the  tournament as the Ladies were dismissed for 72 in 29.2 overs, with only June Ogle (28) reaching double figures. Mana’s effort was supported by another in form bowler Shameer Khan, who ended with figures of 3 for 15 from eight vers to add to his four and five  wicket hauls in his previous two games.

The tournament continues today before breaking for the Easter Weekend, and is expected to resume on Tuesday.