By Rawle Toney

An all-round performance by the East Coast team saw them beating their East Bank counterparts by seven wickets when play in the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Inter-association Under-19 limited overs competition continued at the Lusignan Community Centre ground yesterday.

The match was reduced to 45 overs after overnight showers caused some sogginess on the outfield and a slightly dampened pitch, while the umpires had to begin the day’s play a bit late.

After losing the toss and being sent in to bat first, the East Bank team were rattled out for 152 for nine off their allotted overs and the East Coast  barely worked up a sweat as they ran to their target in just 37 overs scoring 153 for four.

During the East Bank innings, Shamir Fizal played well and was by far their most aggressive batsman scoring a fluent 41. His knock included five fours but he  was run out by wicketkeeper Wasim Mustaphar just when he was in a groove.

Naipaul Raghnandan (17), Ricky Shargeant (15) and Harry Persaud (13) were the only other batsmen to show any form of resistance to the sharp bowling attack of the East Coast men.

Arif Habib’s performance with the ball was superb for his side as he took three wickets, only allowing 28 runs to come off his nine overs and also bowling one maiden. Also doing well with the ball was Keon Franklyn who took two wickets from eight overs for 25 runs with one maiden. The East Coast team then displayed their superiority with the bat as their openers Parmanand Rampersaud (40) and Perchan Lalta (23) did most of the damage in their innings by slaughtering the East Bank bowlers.

Rampersaud was the aggressor, hammering three sixes and one four in his knock before he was given out caught while trying to play over mid on.

His dismissal made way for Delroy Charles (38 not out) who played some elegant shots during his innings but  only stroking one four in the process.

Team captain Rajendra Naikbaran’s innings of 27 though short-lived provided much excitement to the small crowd at hand, as he played the ball well and also struck three fours.

For the East Bank bowlers, Shamir Fazal had the best figures, bowling nine overs, two of which were maidens and he also took one wicket for only 14 runs, while Troy Jaisingh took one for 14 off the five overs he bowled.

The DCB Inter-association competition is being sponsored by German’s Restaurant and W & H Rambarran.