Demerara retained the Guyana Cricket Board Inter-County under-17 tournament after marching to their third consecutive victory by defeating the Select Under-15 by two runs at the Everest Cricket Club ground, yesterday.
Demerara won the toss and elected to bat first but threw away a good start to only manage 207 all out in 48.1 overs while the Select U15 gave a good account of themselves, reaching 205-6 in their full quota.
Demerara lost Raynaldo Mohammed who was run out in the second over with just eight runs on the board but a 99-run partnership between Romel Datterdeen and Man-of-the-Match, Matthew Nandu helped repair the damage.
Nandu, son of former West Indies Under-19, Arjune Nandu brought up his first half century of the tournament as he top scored with 70 from 111 balls, decorated with seven boundaries.
Nandu took a liking to young seamer, Thaddeous Lovell who was smashed for three boundaries through the leg side before holding out to mid on off Alvin Mohabir.
Datterdeen showed his aggressive style of batting with five pulsating boundaries including successive cover drives off of Avinash Rajkumar. However, he was trapped leg before wicket on 49 off his 79th delivery to left-arm spinner, Zachary Jodah.
Jodah, who finished with 3-39 brought his team back into the contest by taking the wickets of Shamar Yearwood (05) and Andre Seepersaud (16), both of whom were caught by Lovell.
Off-spinner, Krsna Singh struck three times in quick succession to finish with 3-44.
But Niran Bissu pushed Demerara over 200 with a 30-ball 40 that featured four sixes down the ground.
In reply, the U15s kept Demerara busy in the field to the point they were clueless as to which bowling option to use after trying with nine bowlers.
Seepersaud found a break through with the wicket of Anthony Khan who made 12 from 11 balls before being bowled but his opening partner, Rampertab Ramnauth and Mavindra Dindyal went on to make half centuries and share in a 106-run partnership for the second wicket.
Ramnauth showcased his wide array of shots all around the ground with 11
boundaries in his 123-ball 76 that spanned over two hours and gave no chances until he was run out via a direct hit from Seepersaud.
Dindyal carried on to make 67 from 104 balls and laced seven boundaries but was caught at short cover to bring Demerara back in the game.
Mohabir was also run out while Johad was bowled for a six-ball duck to further stamp Demerara’s authority.
The match took another turn with Tameshwar Mahadeo producing 17 from 21 to see U15 needing 15 runs from the last over.
Lovell shifted gears, hitting the first ball of Singh’s over back above his head for a six and followed up with a similar shot that only allowed him two runs.
But the third ball was chipped to point for one to leave them short of their target.
