Joshua Alves bagged wickets for one run to help bowl Demerara into the final while Berbice’s 10-wicket defeat of Essequibo continued the Cinderella County’s winless run in the Guyana Cricket Board/ Dave West Indian Imports U15 Inter-County tournament Thursday.
At the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda, Demerara defeated the President’s XI by 113 runs in a rain-affected encounter.
Demerara won the toss and batted, posting 163-9 from 50 overs.
After rain delayed the match by 14 minutes, the President’s XI required a revised target of 160 in 47 overs but only managed 46 all out in 23.4 overs.
Alves, with a deceiving action ripped through the top order with a scintillating spell of fast bowling.
The collapse was triggered when he scattered the stumps of Arifrazul Kadir with six runs on the board. Alves would then trap Tularam Chintamani and Stephon Sankar leg before wicket in successive deliveries.
His impetus reduced the President’s XI to 29 for six before Riyad Latif wrapped up the lower order with three quick wickets. No batsman reached double figures but extras accounted for 22.
Earlier, a slow but steady opening partnership of 60 between Romeo Deonarain (20) and Sachin Balgobin (12) spanned nearly 20 overs.
The President XI’s spinners clamped down on the scoring with 11 runs coming off overs 11 to 20 and when frustration stepped in.
Balgobin faced 30 balls and only scored one run before feathering a catch to the wicketkeeper off of skipper Sankar.
Sankar also trapped Josh Alves leg before wicket without scoring. A mix up at the crease saw Deonarain being run out as Demerara were reduced to 61 for three.
Nityanand Mathura (17) and Nicholas Shiopersaud, however, led a resistance with a 41-run partnership for the fourth wicket while 47 extras propelled the reigning champions to the decent total.
Tulsiram Ramcharran picked up three for 29 while Sankar (2-18) and Dave Mohabir (2-30) aided the President XI’s bowling efforts.
Meanwhile, at the Lusignan Community Centre ground, it was an early day with Essequibo being skittled for 42 all out in 25.3 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat while Berbice reached their target of 44 without loss in 5.2 overs.
The spinners from the Ancient County made light work of the boys from the Cinderella County as Salim Khan picked up 7-16 in 7.3 overs. He was supported by Matthew Pottaya, who bagged 3-10 in eight overs.
Adesh Dass was the only Essequibo batsman to reach double figures, scoring 14, highlighted by two boundaries before being stumped.
In reply, Rampertab Ramnauth raced to 19 not out alongside Nyron Hicks who was unbeaten on four.
The final will be played today with Berbice taking on Georgetown at GCC from 09.30 hours.
