Heroes Cup…GCC, GNIC lead on first innings; DCC and MSC locked in tense struggle

Spinners Totaram Bishun, Ranole Bourne, Deon Ferrier and Shemroy Barrington highlighted the second round of the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) First Division Heroes Cup with five-wicket hauls yesterday.

MSC’s Carlos Fraser is bowled by Totaram Bishun (not in photo) yesterday at the DCC ground in the second round GCA First Division Heroes Cup. (Orlando Charles photo)

Demerara Cricket Club’s Bishun accounted for all  five Malteenoes Sports Club batsmen on the first day at the Queenstown ground. The left handed Bishun ended the day with figures of 5-62 as his side left MSC in a shaky position of 119-5 after 44 overs  chasing  241 to secure first innings points.

Bishun, who shared the new ball with fast medium bowler Dexter George, put the MSC team on the back foot in his second over when he had Carlos Fraser bowled. His 37 overs yielded a mere 58 runs as the DCC batsmen had a tough day at the office.

Totaram Bishun

MSC’s Kellon Carmichael made a solid 35, which included three sixes and a four while Danny Narayan also had a start but was dismissed for 24. The MSC side still has hopes of taking first innings points since Ferrier is still at the crease on 34; his undefeated partner is Lennox Andrews on five.

Earlier, when DCC batted axed national wicketkeeper Derwin Christian scored a pugnacious 66, which was decorated with eight sixes and two fours. He got valuable support from the in-form Christopher Barnwell who stroked 43, which had three sixes and an equal amount of fours as DCC were all out for 240.

The two also shared in a 66-run fourth wicket partnership after their team was 66-3 at one point.

Utam Munroe contributed 27. Ferrier was the pick of the MSC bowlers with 5-69 from his 10.3 overs.

Former national under-19 pacer Quason Nedd provided support to Ferrier with figures of 2-25 from seven overs.

Ranole Bourne

Over at the Everest Cricket Club ground the home team produced a miserable effort with the bat and in the field. The team was bundled out for 102 after losing wickets at regular intervals. Their team’s highest score came from wicketkeeper Joseph Perry, who made 15; Surendra Hiralall (14) and Abilash Deokie (11) were the only other two batsmen to reach double figures. Bourne snared 5-40 from 19.4 overs while his spin partner Collis Butts had 4-38 from his 15 overs.

In reply Guyana National Industrial Corporation’s (GNIC) Shawn De Souza ensured his team reach 151-5 (37) with a lead of 49 runs going into today’s final day. De Souza stroked an undefeated 80 (8×4) while Bourne, is not out on 18. Earlier in the innings David Dick scored 21.

National players Amir Khan, bowling his leg spin, and pacer Leon Scott each picked up two wickets while Troy Gonsalves has one.

Over at the Camp Ayanganna ground Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) has already accumulated a 39-run lead as they closed the day on 157-8 (48), chasing the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) meagre total of 118 (45.3). Leon Johnson was the chief scorer with 60 that comprised of six fours and three sixes.

He got support from the aggressive Wasim Haslim, who made 22, and Vishal Singh (21). Barrington, bowling gentle off spin, had miserly figures of 5-15 from eight overs.

When GDF batted earlier in the day pace bowlers Trevon Garraway and Jeremiah Harris top scored with 32 (1×4) and 28 (4×4) Dellon Heyliger chipped in with 20 (3×4). Left arm spinner Raj Nanan ripped through the GDF line up with 4-35 while Joshua Wade and Gavin Singh picked up 2-18 and 2-43 respectively.

All matches begin at 09:30 hours and will conclude today.