Persaud and Perkhan steer Port Mourant to semi-final

Ramcharitar Construction First Division Competition

The 2011 Ramcharitar Construction Services First Division 50-Over Cricket Competition continued on Wednesday with Port Mourant Karibee Rice defeating Skeldon Community Centre by 32 runs in their second round fixture to advance to the lone semi-final of the competition.In the match that was reduced to 47 overs at the Port Mourant Ground, the home team won the toss and decided  to bat first.

They lost Devendra Thakurdeen for 15 with the score on 27, but then former Guyana Under-19 batsman Moshin Perkhan and former Berbice Under-19 cricketer Shastri Persaud came together and established a partnership of 123 runs in 24 overs to put Port Mourant in charge. However from 150 for 1, Skeldon left arm spinner Mark Lionel removed Perkhan for his second consecutive half century in the competition for an even 50 (6×4), Sameer Khan for 10 and Shastri Persaud for 89 (11×4 and 3×6).  Port Mourant slumped to 175 for 4.

Former West Indies Under-19 captain and Guyana middle order batsman Andre Percival (44 not out) then took charge of the innings by firstly putting on 37 for the 5th wicket with Essequibo cricketer Robert Moore (14) aiding Port Mourant in posting a healthy 238 for 7 in their 47 overs. Mark Lionel took 3 for 33 and left arm spinner Wazir Hussain 2 for 56, had the best bowling figures for Skeldon.

When Skeldon started their response, they were soon 11 for 1 but national one-day wicket-keeper-batsman Anthony Bramble and captain Gary Phillips did very well to keep Skeldon in the hunt by putting on 115 for the second wicket to take them to a very promising position of 116 for 1.

Then off-spinner Percival removed Phillips for 40 and then 25 runs later Bramble for 76 (5 fours and 2 sixes) to see them slip to 141 for 3.

However another off-spinner, former Berbice Under-19 cricketer Rajendra Bolo came into the mix and took 3 quick wickets to reduce them from 147 for 3 to 156 for 6 in the 33rd over, still needing 83 runs in 17.4 overs.

Gajendra Nauth and Gobin Ramnarine gave them hope by playing the bowling with ease but  they added 37 in 6 overs. Nauth was unfortunately run out for 20 at 193 for 7 in the 39th over, opening the way for left arm spinner Moore to snap up the last three wickets very swiftly to leave Skeldon Community Centre high and dry on 206, all in 41 overs.

Ramnarine made 20 while bowling for Port Mourant, Robert Moore took 3 for 36, Rajendra Bolo 3 for 42 and Andre Percival 2 for 24.

Port Mourant Karibee Rice will now await the outcome of the protest lodged by Memorex Bermine against Albion Community Centre to know which team will be their semi-final opponent.