Essequibo, President’s XI upset B/ce, Demerara

-GCB U19 competition

By Delvon McEwan

 

The Demerara under-19 team was again on the losing side in another closely contested match against the President’s XI as they were defeated with a ball to spare in the second round match of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 50 overs tournament, yesterday, at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda.

A superb 74-run, sixth-wicket partnership between Damion Waldron and Kelvin Sewpersaud guided the President’s XI to their target of 217 in 49.5 overs.

Waldron (48 from 85 deliveries) and Sewpersaud (26 from 49 balls) joined forces when the President’s XI were in trouble at 126-5 and they took the score past 200 with responsible batting. However, when Sewpersaud and man-of-the-match Waldron were removed, the President’s XI were seven runs short of the victory target and with three runs needed from the final over, Yekini Favourite ensure his team got to the target by hitting the penultimate delivery to the boundary.

Initially, the President’s XI reply was off to a good start with the opening pair of Sunil Singh and Ryan Shun adding 67 in 11.2 overs before the latter was removed leg before wicket to national youth leg-spinner, Steven Sankar’s second delivery of his first over.

Singh, who was fiercely driving and cutting at the ball when given the opportunity, stroked his way to his half-century off 48 balls. He was eventually dismissed for 53 from 52 balls, inclusive of six boundaries.

Shimron Hetmyer
Shimron Hetmyer
 Brian Sattaur
Brian Sattaur

The President’s XI began to lose their way after Avinash Sewkarran (19), Nick Ramsaroop (20) and Ronaldo Mohamed (10) all wasted starts.

The weakened Demerara’s bowling department which was without the lively pacer Keon Morris, who was refused leave by his employers, was spearheaded by Cleon McEwan (2-32), Sherfane Rutherford (2-44 and Steven Sankar (2-36).

Earlier, after being sent into bat by the President’s XI, Demerara was off to a very slow start as their openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Brian Sattaur added 62 runs in 25 overs before accelerating to 120 in 35.1 overs. Chanderpaul who made 34 from 104 deliveries was the first Demerara batsman to get out when he top edge a short ball from Renaldo Mohamed to be excellently caught by the bowler who run back to catch the ball although he collided with the fielder at short mid-wicket.

Sattaur, who was dropped when on 10 began to up the tempo by hitting two fours and a six in the 38th over bowled by Mohamed.

However, when Chanderpaul was dismissed, Demerara lost quick wickets as their batsmen tried to score at a faster rate. Sattaur was finally dismissed in the 41st over for 90 from 121 balls, inclusive of nine fours and three sixes.

Cleon McEwan and Steven Sankar made 22 apiece to give Demerara’s innings the spark it needed at the bottom, while Seegobin (12) was the other batsman to reach double figures.

Ronaldo Mohamed (3-33) was the most effective bowler for the President’s XI while Gavin Moriah, Waldron and Sewpersaud took a wicket each.

Over at the Enmore Community Centre ground, Essequibo defeated Berbice by five wickets to create the second upset of the day.

Batting first Berbice were bowled out 229 in 46.3 overs. Shimron Hetmyer (63), Balchand Baldeo (58) and David Latchaya (37) the principal scorers for Berbice. Akil Wallace (3-55), Akini Adams (2-33) and Kemo Paul (2-36) were the chief bowlers for Essequibo.

20140515kemopaulShivindra Hemraj (57), Ricardo Peters (53) and Kemo Paul (53) made half-centuries in Essequibo’s successful run chase of 231-5.

The third and final round is scheduled for Friday, with Essequibo opposing Demerara at the Enmore Community Centre ground and Berbice facing the President’s XI at the Everest Cricket Club ground.