Half centuries from Timothy McCalmont and Gavin Boodwah helped Demerara trounce Essequibo by 158 runs yesterday.
Playing in their opening match of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) 2015 Under-17 competition, McCalmont’s 67 and Boodwah’s 62 helped post a mammoth total of 302-8 in 50 overs for the host Demerara, who then restricted Essequibo to 144-8 as Sagar Hathiramani captured three wickets.
Coming to the crease after the second wicket fell at 92, Boodwah batted confidently, belting two sixes and six fours from 61 deliveries. McCalmont, who batted at number six, belted five sixes and as many fours off just 46 balls.
Former u-15 skipper Bhaskar Yadram scored 34 and Ramnarine Chatura made 26. The opening pair of Joshua Persaud and Raymond Perez, got Demerara off to a fast start with a 39-run stand, contributing 21 and 20 runs respectively. Essequibo’s opening fast bowler Joshua Jones claimed two wickets.
Essequibo then slipped to 19-2 early into their run chase, losing Jones for one and skipper Mark Williams for seven. Kevin Christian and Sachin Persaud (13) then joined forces, taking the score to 46 before Persaud was bowled by Hathiramani.
Hathiramani bowled two more batsmen in quick succession to leave Essequibo at a desperate position of 58-5.
Christian and Shakeem Sue then added 42 runs for the sixth wicket, before the latter was caught behind off the bowling of medium pacer and skipper Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed.
Christian and Mathew Cheung then added 36 more runs before the former innings ended at 32 off 100 balls, bowled around his leg by Yadram.
Shamar Britton’s dismissal to Richie Looknauth was the last before Essequibo’s innings eventually closed. Hathiramani ended with 3-26 from 10 overs while Ali Mohamed got 2-28.
Second round action will continue today as Demerara battle the Guyana U-15 Squad at Police Sports Club ground and Essequibo tackle Berbice at Everest Cricket Club. Both matches are scheduled to start at 9:30.
