Clements, Deonarine hit half centuries in final trial game

Former national under-19 all rounder Devon Clements (66*) along with former West Indies middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine (51) were the highlight of the fifth and final trial match organized by the Berbice Cricket Board of Control at the Albion Community Centre ground yesterday.

At the completion of the match which was won by Deonarine’s XI who defeated Chattergoon’s XI by seven wickets, thanks mainly to a 100 runs third wicket partnership between Deonarine and Clements, the selectors short-listed a 21-man squad, from which the final 14 will be chosen to contest the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/El Dorado 50 overs-a-side Inter-county tournament.

Skipper Sewnarine Chattergoon won the toss and opting to take first strike, saw his side being dismissed for 164 from 49.2 overs with Berbice opener Richard Ramdeen continuing his fine form with the bat with 35.

Ranga Lachigadoo offered support with 30 while former Berbice all rounder Paul Wintz contributed 27 against the bowling of fast bowler Michael Newland with 2-7, Deonarine (2-32) and national fast bowler Brendon Bess (2-36) were the principal wicket takers for Deonarine’s XI.

In their turn at the wicket, Deonarine’s XI lost the wickets of former Berbice under-19 opener Farouk Hussain (10) and Berbice opener Maxie De Jonge (7), who were both caught off the bowling of national all-rounder Esaun Crandon (2-10), to be 19-2.

But Deonarine and Clements joined forces to add 100 from 26 overs before Deonarine (51; 2wx4, 1×6) was stumped by national under-19 wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble off Assad Fudadin. But Clements whose unbeaten 66 was decorated with nine fours, was joined by national opening batsman Royston Crandon (19*) and they saw their team to a comfortable seven wickets victory.

Meanwhile, the selection panel short-listed a 21-man squad that will be coached by national under-19 coach and former national all rounder Hubern Evans and managed by second vice president of the BCBC David Black, to continue training for the inter-county championship.

The 21-man squad which will continue to train at the Rose Hall welfare ground in Canje reads: Brendon Bess, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Devon Clements, Esaun and Royston Crandon, Narsingh Deonarine, Jonathan Foo, Assad Fudadin, Delbert Hicks, Keon Joseph, Ranga Lachigadoo, Kwesi Maltay, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Michael Newland, Veerasammy Permaul, Homchand Pooran, Richard Ramdeen, Gajanand Singh and Paul Wintz.

The players named above are asked to be at the ground from 12:30hrs on Monday for practice under the guidance of Evans.