The Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) and the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) booked spots in the final of the New Building Society (NBS)-sponsored Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) 2nd Division 40-overs competition with contrasting victories in their respective semi-finals on Saturday.
DCC took on their traditional rivals Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and squeaked past them in a memorable two-wicket triumph, while MYO utterly dominated the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in a 125-run victory.
Playing on home turf in a day/night affair, DCC ceded the toss to GCC, and the latter elected to bat, putting a respectable 212 all out on the board from 29.3 overs.
DCC struck early as GCC opener Shahid Vieira gave Wavell Allen a simple return catch to leave his side at 16/1.
It was a trend that would continue, as DCC struck regularly with GCC’s top order failing to string together meaningful partnerships despite Joshua Wade hitting a defiant 51 from 43 deliveries at the top of the order, which included five fours and three maximums.
After Jayden Dowlin ran through the GCC middle order, and with their side looking in danger of being bowled out for less than 200, Stephon Wilson and Josh Charles staged a last wicket partnership to drag GCC from 169/9 to 212 all out.
Wilson blasted 33 from 21 balls, hitting five fours and a six along the way before he was caught off of Allen to end GCC’s inning. Charles was left not out on a quick-fire 23 from 12 deliveries, which included a four and two sixes.
Aside from the last pair and Wade, only Rivaldo Philips (36) and Deonarine Seegobin (20) made any contributions of note. Dowlin, who removed Zakary Jodah (15), Seegobin, Thaddeus Lovell (7), and Dhanesh Persaud (4), led the way with the ball for DCC, returning figures of 4/51 (7 overs). He received support from Allen (2/19) and Inderjit Nanan (2/41).
In response, DCC got off to a shaky start, losing Jonathan Van Lange (18) and Brandon Jaikaran (0) early; however, eventual man-of-the-match Inderjit Nanan and Nkosi Beaton lifted their team to safety with a brilliant 134-run third wicket partnership. Nanan proved to be the aggressor, hitting 13 fours in his 83 (64 balls), while Beaton was content to rotate the strike during his 61 (67 deliveries), which included four fours and three sixes.
Looking comfortable at 159, the loss of Beaton, caught off the bowling of Stephon Wilson, would spark a collapse that put DCC in danger of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Dowlin, after his impressive effort with the ball, could only muster 2, caught behind off the bowling of Lovell, leaving DCC at 175/4 off the first delivery of the 26th over. Lovell then snared an impressive hat-trick to rock the DCC side. His next two deliveries saw him have Ricardo Percival and Ezekiel Wilson both caught behind for golden ducks, leaving DCC 176/6.
Nanan would fall the very next over to make it 182/7, while DCC’s skipper Dexter George (2) had the misfortune of being dismissed by hitting his wickets to leave his side in trouble at 193/8 in the 29th over. However, tailenders Daniel Mootoo and Kareem Whitney guided their side to victory without further ado. Mootoo was sensible during his unbeaten 17 while Whitney ended on six, not out, to hand DCC the win in the 33rd over. Nana, with his 2/41 and 84, was adjudged man of the match.
Over at the GDF ground, in another day/night affair, MYO won the toss and elected to bat, posting 236 in 37.3 overs before being bowled out before steamrolling GDF for 111 to win by a massive 125-run margin.
Batting first, MYO had multiple contributions as five batsmen got starts of 20+ but could not kick on. Vishwanauth Ramlakan scored the most with 29, while Richard Latiff and Abdul Ramsammy had identical scores of 27. Leading the way with the ball for GDF was Delshawn McDonald, who took 4/51 (8).
GDF, needing 237 for victory, had an opening partnership of 36 as Leon Andrews (17) and Rockael Reddy (17) were the only batsmen aside from Zameer Nazeer (17) to get to double figures. MYO’s Ershaad Ali was almost unstoppable with the ball, capturing 4/24 (8 overs) and receiving backup from Abdul Ramsammy, who returned 3/21.
Ali was named man of the match for his bowling effort. The NBS 2nd Division Final will be played at a date to be announced by the GCA.
