A man-of-the-match performance from skipper Rajendra Nikbarran along with a pugnacious innings from opener Brian Sattaur enabled East Coast to demolish West Demerara in the final of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB)/ W&H Rambarran/German Restaurant inter-association competition yesterday.
Competing in brilliant sunshine at the Lusignan Community Centre ground, West Demerara took first strike and were bowled out for 159 from 48 overs, with Demerara Under-19 player Kishan Shivgobin leading the way with 51 (4×4).
After seeing his team shakily placed on 36-1 in the fifth over, Shivgobin in partnership with Doesh Sukhu who made 26 (2×4; 1×6) added 56 for the second wicket from 20 overs, but after they were dismissed, only Amir Mohamood 22 (1×4; 1×6) managed to get into double figures for his team.
Fast bowler Keon Franklyn (3-19) and Nikbarran 3-26 did the damage with the ball for East Coast, who got a start of 25 from five overs for their first wicket before Parmanand Rampersaud (05) was caught by Medha Dhanpaul off the bowling of Mohamood.
His demise brought Nikbarran to the wicket and together with Sattaur added 126 for the second wicket with some pugnacious hitting to all parts of the ground.
Sattaur, who is well known for his hard hitting style, did not disappoint his teammates when he struck fast bowler Kevin Lyndo over long leg for six, while Nikbarran also struck Dhanpaul over his head for his lone maximum of his innings as East Coast raced to 63-1 in the 11th over.
A short delivery from Arjune Persaud was dispatched over square leg for four by Nikbarran who watched from the other end as Sattaur pulled the same bowler through midwicket for four before he hit Sukhu and Ameer Khan back over their heads for maximums.
Sattaur posted his half century from 46 deliveries and after being given a life by Persaud who failed to hold onto a chance off the bowling of Khan, Sattaur made the preliminary round runners-up pay for their mistake when he sent the next delivery over long on for six.
But with victory a mere nine runs away, and after seeing Nikbarran who led Demerara in the just-concluded Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/GTM Under-19 Inter-county tournament reach his 50, Sattaur holed out to Mohamood at long on off the bowling of Sukhu.
He faced 60 deliveries and struck six fours and four maximums in his 81, but that was all the success for West Demerara as Nikbarran struck back to back boundaries off the bowling of Sukhu, to finish unbeaten on 59 off 44 balls with six fours and one six.
With him at the end was Delroy Charles who was on 3 as East Coast who made it to the final following the disqualification of points leaders Georgetown for utilizing an overage player in the tournament, ended on 161-2 from 22.4 overs.
At the simple presentation ceremony which followed, president of the DCB Bissoondial Singh congratulated the victors and encouraged West Demerara to come back stronger in next year’s tournament which has been assured sponsorship by the same sponsors.
