GCC overruns UG by 155 runs

GCC’s Winston Forrester blazed a 61-ball 94 against University of Guyana
GCC’s Winston Forrester blazed a 61-ball 94 against University of Guyana

In the latest round of the Georgetown Cricket Association’s New Building Society-sponsored second division 40-over tournament on Sunday, Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) handed University of Guyana (UG) a memorable scolding with a 155-run win.

Playing at Bourda, the hosts won the toss and decided to bat first, posting 287 in 39.3 overs. In reply, UG were restricted to 122 all out in 31.2 overs.

Seasoned campaigners, Winston Forrester and Martin Pestano-Belle slaughtered the educational institution’s bowlers to add 112 for the opening partnership. In that partnership, Pestano-Belle was a mere spectator throughout most of it as he contributed 22, consisting of two boundaries but importantly was happy to give the strike to Forrester who looked in hunting mode.

Forrester’s brutal 61-ball 94 was decorated with six sixes and eight fours before being run out.

Despite Forrester’s dismissal, Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed and Bernard Bailey did not let UG get back in the contest as they both fell one short of their half centuries.

Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed (left) took 3-11 and scored 49 while Bernard Bailey also scored 49 and took 2-30

Ali-Mohamed hammered five fours and two sixes in his 59-ball innings but Bailey was brisk, smashing five sixes and one four in his 24-ball cameo. Both batsmen were dismissed off of Keon Roberts with Bailey’s wicket coming after hitting two successive sixes.

Roberts ended with 2-57 while Dwayne Dodson returned 2-27 and Yakini Favorite collected 3-49.

In UG’s innings, only Laurel Parks looked settled as he scored a fighting 60, laced with four fours and one six before being dismissed by Ali-Mohamed.

Ali-Mohamed then made light work of the lower order to end with 3-11. He was supported by fellow seamer, Bailey with 2-30 while left-arm spinners, Aryan Persaud (2-15) and Stephon Wilson (1-29) chipped in.

Apart from Parks, Only Ricardo David (12) and Dodson (11) reached double figures for UG.