Defending champions, Berbice found themselves in a tight spot, closing on 107-6 against Essequibo when play began at 15:00hrs on the first day of the second round of the Hand-In-Hand Under-19 Inter-County tournament yesterday at the Lusignan Community Centre ground.
Heavy rainfall overnight saw the pitch filled with moisture with the inspection at 11:00hrs signalling play but further rain halted the start until 14:40 hrs where Essequibo won the toss and inserted Berbice to bat.
Berbice were off to a brisk start with Alex Algoo and Junior Sinclair sharing in a 42-run opening stand. Algoo looked positive and attacked the spinners after seeing the two opening seamers off with a sweep for six off of Amit Persaud over fine leg.
However, Persaud got his revenge as he enticed Algoo into a drive that picked out Jeremiah Scott at cover for 22 from 50 balls, hitting one four in addition to his six.
Jeetendra Outar’s stay was short lived as he pushed a low return catch to off-spinner, Lance Roberts for just two.
Sinclair carried on Berbice’s march, bringing up his half century with his second six, dispatched over mid-wicket off of Persaud but found himself caught at short leg off the very next delivery to end his 107-minute and 103-ball stay at the crease where he stroked four fours.
With the defending champions struggling at 79-3, their skipper, Kevlon Anderson trickled a thick edge to Orlando Jailall for just five to hand Persaud his third wicket while Seon Glasgow (03) held out to short cover and Shamar Angel (00) was trapped leg before wicket in the same over, giving Roberts his third wicket as well.
Nigel Deodat ended the day’s play positively with two boundaries through the mid-wicket area off of Badesh Parsotam to close on 10 not out.
Garfield Benjamin is at the other end on 13. Today’s play will begin from 09:30hrs.
