A four-wicket haul from Nial Smith followed up by a half century from Man-of-the-Match Jonathan Foo, helped Lower Corentyne defeat Essequibo by two wickets at Cumberland, Canje, yesterday in the fifth round of the SBF Petroleum/Cricket Guy Inc., Jaguars 50-overs-a-side Franchise League.
Essequibo won the toss and opted to bat first, posting 195-9 from their allotted overs but the Lower Corentyne players held their nerve in fading light to reach 199-8 with 21 balls remaining.
Smith once again troubled the batsmen of the defending champions as he bagged 4-54 although he was forced to weather an early assault from opener, Kevon Boodie who struck him for three boundaries in his fourth over.
Boodie, who was dropped on 30, was subsequently caught at first slip off of Foo for 34, with five fours and one six.
Foo (2-20) found himself sitting on a hat trick after Ricardo Adams came to the crease and decide to challenge the off-spinner, only to pick out long on from his first delivery.
Kemol Savory provided stability in the middle with a patient 85-ball 32 as he spent over two hours at the crease and struck one four and one six.
The 23-year-old partnered with Quentin Sampson (37), one of the more consistent batsmen this season to put on 58 for the fifth wicket.
It was, however, an even half century from captain Anthony Adams that allowed Essequibo to reach their near 200-run target.
Despite retiring on three from an injury to his ankle, the captain returned to hit five fours and a six in his 64-ball innings that ended when he was bowled by Kelvin Umroa.
In their reply, Foo once again piloted the chase with a composed 86. His 92-ball, 150-minute-long innings was decorated with seven fours and four sixes. The 29-year-old took a liking to discarded West Indies seamer, Ronsford Beaton, who was struck for consecutive fours and a six before retiring from the match with a hamstring injury.
At 56-4, Foo was joined by Seon Hetmyer to put on 62 but Hetmyer cover drove Ricardo Adams into the hands of Sampson at short cover for 33.
When Foo sliced to point and picked out Ricardo Adams with his team still 27 runs behind, Smith returned with bat in hand to provide an unbeaten 26 highlighted by five elegant boundaries, two of which were hit consecutively through cover and point respectively to end the game.
Meanwhile, over at Bush Lot, Upper Corentyne recorded a 79-run victory over West Berbice.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Upper Corentyne posted 194-8 from their allotted overs before restricting the hosts to 115 in 29.2 overs.
Upper Corentyne’s batting centered around a half century from opening batsman, Alex Algoo, whose 52 included eight fours. The national U19 batsman added 45 for the third wicket with his captain, Anthony Bramble who made 22 with one six and two fours.
With the two set batsmen back in the dugout and the visitors 93-4, Jonathan Rampersaud (32) and Clinton Pestano (35) propelled their side to the relatively large total. The pair added 69 for the fifth wicket. Keon Joseph (2-41) and Andrew Dutchin (2-38) were the principal wicket-takers.
In reply, former national youth captain and legspinner, Shawn Perreira bagged 6-51 while Eon Hooper (2-11), Pestano (1-7) and Dimitri Cameron (1-17) supported.
Dutchin returned to top score with 31 and Javed Karim and Joseph added 20 and 24 respectively.
