Essequibo secured a 10-wicket win over Demerara yesterday to march into tomorrow’s Guyana Cricket Board Senior Inter-County 50-over final.
Demerara won the toss and inserted Essequibo at the National Stadium in overcast conditions. Essequibo managed 156 all out in 41.2 overs while Demerara were bowled out for 146 in 31.1 overs.
With wickets tumbling around him, Essequibo wicketkeeper/batsman, Kemol Savory top scored with a vital 66 from 119 balls. His three-hour long innings featured just a consolatory boundary.
Savory added 48 for the sixth wicket with Wazim Mohamed who made 22 from 30 balls after hitting two fours and one six.
Kevon Boodie (13) and Ricardo Adams were the only other batsmen to reach double figures as extras chalked up 28 towards the total.
Ronaldo Alimohamed returned 3-28 while leggie, Steven Sankar bagged 3-43. Off-spinner, Richie Looknauth and veteran seamer, Christopher Barnwell, picked up two wickets each.
In Demerara’s innings, Ronsford Beaton gave Essequibo the perfect start with the wicket of Tagenarine Chanderpaul three balls into the innings. He soon followed with the wicket of Joshua Persaud for 13 and came back to remove the dangerous Sherfane Rutherford for 18 to end with 4-38.
His fast-bowling teammate, Keemo Paul complemented him with crucial wickets of Leon Johnson who made 29 and Tevin Imlach, 28, effectively ending their 50-run partnership for the third wicket. Akshaya Persaud top scored with 36 from 30 balls but was trapped leg before wicket by Paul who also accounted for Alimohmed to end with 4-50. Garfield Phillips and Ricardo Adams took one wicket each.
Essequibo will now take on Berbice in the final on Tuesday from 14.00 hours at the Stadium.
