A disciplined bowling performance from the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) followed by a commanding batting display, condemned the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to a six-wicket defeat, their first loss in the 2018-2019 Georgetown Cricket Association/New Building Society 40-overs second division tournament.
In overcast conditions at the GCC ground yesterday, GDF won the toss and decided to take first strike. They were bundled out for 109 in 34.1 overs and GCC replied with 110-4 in 22.3 overs.
GDF were troubled early with Bernard Bailey removing Leon Andrew who was caught at backward point by Timothy McAlmont without a run on the board.
Damien Ross and Raffell Estrando were both dismissed by Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed but Randy Lindore and Damion Waldron provided a bit of resistance, sharing in a 26-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Lindore was caught for 22, hitting three boundaries along the way as Waldron and Jeremiah Harris partnered with him to put on 38. Waldron departed for a top score of 34 after he was stumped by Martin Pestano-Belle off the bowling of left arm spinner, Devon Lord.
Lord, along with fellow left arm spinner Stephon Wilson and off break bowler Chetram Persaud, made light work of the lower order with Harris remaining unbeaten on 31. Lord, who captains the side, picked up 3-14 with Bailey and Ali-Mohammed gathering 2-12 and 2-15 respectively. GCC allowed GDF to get away on three occasions with two possible catches going down as the fielders lost the ball in the sun while Damion Whitney was put down on a difficult return catch to Wilson. In the chase, Pestano-Belle peppered the spinners, hitting three sixes down the ground on his way to a top score of 35 from 33 balls before being bamboozled by Waldron.
Pestano-Belle shared in a 54-run opening stand with Khemraj Jaikaran, who made 25, before Waldron accounted for his wicket as well.
GCC lost their way for a while with Ali-Mohammed holding out to Joshua Jones at mid-wicket after flicking Shemar Allen into the boundary ropes but Deonarine Seegobin carried along to finish unbeaten on 17 including a six straight down the ground. Waldron finished with 3-14.
