An unbeaten half-century from Kevin Sinclair ensured West Berbice their second bonus point after defeating East Bank Demerara by eight wickets in the second round of the SBF Petroleum/Cricket Guy Incorporated Jaguars 50-over Franchise yesterday.
In the presence of a handful of spectators at the desert-like Bush Lot Ground, Sinclair continued his impressive form with the bat and followed up his unbeaten 36 in the first round with 56 not out to lead West Berbice to their target of 119-2 in 20 overs.
Despite the outfield littered with holes and manure from the cows that graze there, the former national Under-19 displayed his strength through the cover region with four of his half dozen fours, dominantly driven through that area.
The junior Cricketer-of-the-Year, towards the end of his innings, also exhibited his versatile range of shots with successive sixes off of off-spinner, Trevon `Bugsy’ Griffith.
Sinclair first punched a six into the sight screen while pulling out the sweep shot that dispatched the ball into the Bush Lot Secondary School compound at square leg which sent the hundreds of students into an uproar. That shot also brought up his half century with the right handed batsman savoring the moment with his marksman-like celebration.
During Sinclair’s masterful performance, he lost his opening partner, Leon Andrews, who was found short of his crease attempting a single and had to depart for 19 from 30 balls but his departure brought skipper, Shimron Hetmyer to the middle.
The gold-dyed hair left-handed batsman, fresh off his stint with the Guyana Amazon Warriors, returned to the side and forged a second-wicket stand of 61 with the young opener, nearly seeing his side over the line with flamboyant shots that included two fours and a single six over mid-wicket off of Griffith before picking out Matthew Nandu over long on off the bowling of left-arm spinner, Trevon France.
Nevertheless, with just 22 needed, Javid Karim joined Sinclair and the pair knocked off the runs in three overs with Karim sealing victory with a six to end on 11.
After the match, Sinclair said it was through hard work he has been able to perform like this noting that it was his dream to bat with his captain and that he gained a lot of experience and knowledge which he will use in the upcoming matches.
Sinclair revealed that the conversation in the middle was “just bat and bat, pick up the ones and twos, the runs is already small so don’t take too much risk and wait on the bad balls.”
Meanwhile, Hetmyer explained that he had the option of staying away but wanted to come out and represent his franchise after not being around for a lengthy period but reflected on the time in the middle stating, “it is always nice to come out and get some runs under my belt, I just felt good and it was just the matter of me playing the ball straight, waiting on the bad ball and being the Shimron Hetmyer I know I can be and just take it step by step.”
Hetmyer credited the contributions of the young players in the side as a major part of the team’s victory.
Earlier, East Bank were off to a horrid start after Griffith popped the first ball of the match to short mid-on and Mavindra Dindyal was run out in the first over by Keon Joseph who looked in superb form with his express pace and surprise short delivery.
But skipper, Vishaul Singh and Sachin Singh revived the innings with a 66-run stand. Sachin Singh was merciless to anything full outside off, happy to punch it down the ground as he did with his three sixes and two fours during his 45-ball 29. He was unfortunate to edge a sharp catch to Hetmyer at first slip that broke the partnership off of off-spinner, Seon Glasgow.
Vishaul Singh followed in the next over, holding out to backward point in an attempted sweep. The out-of-favour West Indies test batsman top scored with 30 from 57 balls consisting of five boundaries, two of which were reverse swept and cover driven successively off of Joseph.
Glasgow got into operation and stifled the lower order with three quick wickets to end with 4-31. Yeudister Persaud in a painstaking 83-minute innings resisted the West Berbice spinners before falling for 17 from 77 balls. Sinclair also collected 1-18 while Joseph bagged 2-36 and Gudakesh Motie, 2-14 from their 10 overs.
