Opener Ronaldo Renee missed out on another ton as Demerara emerged winners of the 2016 Guyana Cricket Board/Hand-In-Hand three-day Inter-County tournament after securing first innings honours against Essequibo yesterday at Bourda.
The third and final round got off to a disappointing start after day one was washed out while showers affected most of the morning play.
Renee, who smashed 165 not out against Berbice in the last match, came close to racking up back-to-back hundreds after his attractive 99 helped Demerara to first innings points.
They were bowled out for 240, in reply the Essequibo’s 197.
Essequibo left-arm spinner Akini Adams snapped up 6 for 87 on a good batting wicket.
Essequibo, who needed 43 runs to make Demerara bat a second time, reached 66-1 at the close.
Mark Williams played aggressively for his 42 before he departed, leaving his partner Nathan Persaud unbeaten on 19.
Renee and fellow century maker from the last match Raymond Perez (23), resumed their innings on seven respectively with their team trailing by 182 runs at 16-0.
Adams duly broke the 73-run opening stand removing Perez lbw and the dismissals of the dangerous Sherfane Rutherford (15) and Romain Muniram (03) who fell to off-spinner Looknauth Chinkoo (3-43) followed.
At 96-3, Renee continued looking for avenues to score while new man and skipper Travis Persaud was able to scratch around for 18 as he shared a 39-run fourth wicket partnership with Renee before he was stumped off the bowling of Adams.
Renee reached his 50 prior to lunch with Demerara on 135 for 4. When play resumed, Demerara lost Gavin Boodwah (3) and Malcom Hubbard (4) cheaply to Adams.
All-rounder Ronaldo Alimohamed then teamed up with Renee after the collapse and launched a counterattack against the Cinderella County boys.
After venturing into the 90’s, Renee got an extra life on when the wicket-keeper Nathan Persaud spilled a chance.
However, the 42-run stand between the two came to an end when Chinkoo had AliMohammed caught by substitute Reyaz Khan and Renee who was caught by Paul one short of his hundred off Adams.
The final two wickets that of Keshram Shabodan (10) and Darshan Persaud (01) were snatched up by Adams who completed his six-for.
Over at Wales, Under-17 select opener Bhaskar Yadram slammed 177 against a hapless Berbice who were knocked over for 73 in the first innings. The U17 Select were eventually dismissed for 327 as their match also ended in a draw.
