Fifteen-year-old Jamally Odle was a shining star on a dull day as Essequibo held on for a draw against defending champions Berbice in their second round fixture of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Clico sponsored 2008 two-day under-17 Inter-county championship at the Rose Hall Canje ground yesterday.
Odle blazed his way to an entertaining 54 from 39 balls with five fours and one six in Berbice’s second innings total of 131-5 declared from 24 overs which left Essequibo needing to score 172 to win from 18 overs including the maximum 15 in the final hour.
At the close they were 65-7. Scores in the match Berbice;180-8 (65 overs) and 131-5 declared. Essequibo 140 and 65-7.
Essequibo resumed on their overnight score of 80-7 with Anthony Adams on 10 and Neil Ramalho on six on a day where the first session was lost due to wet spots on the pitch caused by seepage through the covers from overnight and early morning rain.
The two batted responsibly in posting 52 runs for the eighth wicket.
However, Adams was needlessly run out by Dominique Rikhi after Ramalho refused a single.
He made a workmanlike 29 from 86 balls and struck three fours in 73 minutes.
Essequibo quickly folded for 140 with Ramalho the last wicket to fall bowled by La Fleur after batting for 75 minutes, facing 74 balls and hitting a solitary boundary.
La Fleur ended with 4-27 while Trinson Carmichael who in tandem with La Fleur had rocked the Essequibians batting on the first day with his three wickets did not add to his tally yesterday and ended with 3-23.
With a first innings lead of 40, Berbice came out seeking quick runs.
La Fleur was in a destructive mood, this time with the bat hitting Rensford Beaton over midwicket for the first six of not only the match, but this years’ tournament also.
He was adjudged lbw to the same bowler two balls later for seven, leaving Berbice on 19-2 and an overall lead of 59.
His dismissal paved the way for the Odle/Clinton Pestano show and the two did not disappoint with some entertaining shots and sensible running in between the wickets. At tea, Berbice were 65-3, an overall lead of 105 with Odle on 26 (2×4, 1×6) and Pestano 16 (2×4).
Odle lost Pestano who was caught by Rowell Cornelius at long on off the bowling of Ramalho for 30.
He faced 34 balls and struck three fours whilst batting for 65 minutes during his fourth wicket partnership with Odle that netted 66 runs from a mere nine overs. Odle duly reached his maiden 50 when he flicked the 37th delivery he faced through midwicket. He had batted for 45 minutes and struck four fours and one six.
The declaration came at 3.37pm with Berbice on 131-5 from 24 overs. Fredericks with 2-25 along with Ramalho (2-31) and Beaton 1-60 were the wicket takers for Essequibo.
Needing to score 172 to achieve a come from behind victory from 18 overs, Essequibo’s second innings got a disastrous start when Jermaine Hohenkirk (0) was run out by Chattergoon at first slip after being called through for a single by Herrell Greene of the third ball of the innings.
Greene and Kerron Mc Lennon (08) then added 20 for the second wicket.
Before Greene, looking to force a delivery from Joseph through point got an edge through to Chattergoon at first slip. Mc Lennon followed 10 runs later when he was bowled by Carmichael for eight at 31-3.
Captain Dwayne Singh (8*) and Ramalho (13) pushed the score to 50 but Rovi Harris (06), Adams (01) and Cornelius (01) all gave their wickets away with Harris and Carmichael being run out whilst Adams was caught by Hardyal at midwicket, leaving Singh and Beaton to survive two tense overs which ensured Essequibo the draw.
Berbice will now take on Demerara at the Wales Community Centre ground tomorrow and must come away with an outright victory if they intend to retain their championship trophy.
