By Delvon Mc Ewan
Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) was the only team to record an outright win as four games ended in draws when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) division one and two matches continued over the weekend at venues in the city.
In the Hadi’s World Incorporated first division matches, at DCC, the hosts defeated Transport Sports Club (TSC) by an innings and 75 runs. Batting first TSC were skittled for 102 in 34 overs as former national youth pacer Dexter George claimed 5-24 while C. Jacques took 3-16. DCC replied with 346 all out in 73 overs. Renaldo Renee got to 96 while Kemol Savory (50) and Antonnel Atwell (55) also reached half centuries. TSC’s most experience player Kevin Ross took 7-113 while Jonathan Alphonso picked up 2-80.
With a deficit of 244 to make the hosts bat again, the visitors were restricted to 169, with Ryan Hemraj scoring 59. K. Harry and Atwell were the destroyers for DCC with figures of 3-41 and 4-36 respectively.
On Saturday, at the Everest Cricket Club ground, the hosts reached 268-8 before declaring after 84 overs. In reply, Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) were struggling at the close after reaching 25-4. Meanwhile, at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground, the hosts MSC were 63-4 at the end of the day’s play replying to the 155 all out that was made by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
Everest’s total was boosted by three half centuries before the team’s declaration. Rafael Singh top scored with 67 while Joseph Perry and Tagenarine Chandepaul made 55 and 54 respectively. Bowling for GYO, former national youth pacer Leon Scott grabbed 4-71 from 16 overs while Anthony
Ifill supported with 2-49.
In reply, the visitors were reeling at 25-4 with leg spinner Troy Gonsalves capturing all four of the wickets to end a good day for Everest.
From their overnight score of 25-4, GYO eventually reached 207, with Chris Deonarine (76), Anthony Ifill (51) and Kwame Crosse (47) the main scorers. Rayad Sattaur and Javed Rasheed supported Gonsalves with two wickets each.
Chanderpaul scored his second fifty of the match to end with an unbeaten 62 as Everest were 112-3 in 42 overs when both captains decided to call off the game.
Across at MSC, the hosts and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) played in a stalemate. On Saturday (day one of the match) Darien Best and Steven Sankar combined to take nine wickets in almost identical fashion as they did against the military unit second division team two weeks ago. Best finished with 5-24 from 11 overs of medium pace bowling while Sankar took 4-21 from 11.5 overs as GDF were restricted to 155 all out in 45.5 overs. Steven Harris top scored with 33 while Dale deMendonca chipped in with 24. In reply MSC lost two quick wickets to finish the day at 63-4, with Kefa Naughton unbeaten on five and night watchman Best yet to score. Gilford Moore took three wickets for GDF. When MSC resumed their innings on Sunday, they reached 100-9 before declaring. Steven Jacobs was their main contributor with 21 runs while Kareem Naughton and Rackael Greene fought for 18 and 15 respectively. Pacers Gilford Moore and Steven Harris collected three wickets each for the visitors.
The military side was bowled out for 99 in their second innings with Steven Harris striking an attacking 48 which contained six sixes. Sankar (5-23), Cordell Mars (3-3) and Best 2-18 were the leading bowlers for MSC, who reached 60-4 when the game ended.
GNIC and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) also played to a draw at GCC ground Bourda. On Saturday GNIC reached 233-8 when the day’s play ended, with Shawn De souza and Ovid Richardson being the main scorers with 68 and 32 respectively while Devon Lorde picked up three wickets.
GNIC were eventually routed for 274 early on Sunday as overnight batsman Rawle Merell was determined for 33. Joshua Wade snared two wickets to assist Lorde, who finished with three wickets.
GCC responded with 303-8, with Vishal ‘cheesy’ Singh (92), Jetendra Sookdeo (69) and Martin Pestano Belle making 48. Ryan Shun was the chief bowler for GNIC with two wickets.
In the only Noble House second-division match that was played, Transports Sports Club and the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) played to a draw at the GYO ground. TSC batted first scoring 220 all out in 50.2 overs. Skipper Shawn Massiah were the principal scorer for TSC with an unbeaten innings of 90 as GNIC’s pacer Christian Husbands caused havoc by taking 5-58.
GNIC fell short of first innings points by 27 runs. National youth player Kurt Lovell became the second person to reach fifty in the match, with a top score of 57 while Joel Spooner picked up his third five wicket haul of the tournament, finishing with 5-31. TSC got to 173 in their second innings with Mark Ramsammy the principal scorer with 62. He was supported by Azeem Azeez’s 33. Orlando Fraser and Orlando Kirton got three wickets each for GNIC. Having to score 200 runs for a come-from- behind victory, GNIC reached 56-2 before the game ended in a draw.
No centuries were made on a weekend where batsmen scored 15 fifties. This made it the third consecutive weekend that batsmen failed to reach three figures.
