Centuries from Bhaskar Yadram and Alex Algoo spurred Demerara and the National Under-17 side to victory when second round action in the Guyana Cricket Board/Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited Under-19 Inter-County 50-over tournament took place on Wednesday.
Over at the National Stadium, Providence, Berbice took first strike against Demerara. The Berbicians had a somewhat mixed approach, demonstrating some levels of constructiveness coupled with indecisiveness in posting 197-9 off the allotted 50 overs.
Batting for Berbice, middle-order batsman Javid Karim top scored with a brilliant 74, which included 11 fours. Karim was ably assisted by Mathews Hardial (26) and Kevin Sinclair (16). Bowling for Demerara, Ronaldo Alimohamed grabbed 4-46 off nine penetrative overs, while Bhaksar Yadram took 3-46 off nine of overs of medium-pace.
In reply, Demerara found themselves in early trouble when national youth player Raymond Perez was dismissed by Karim with the score on four. However, West Indies Under-19 selectees Bhaskar Yadram and Joshua Persaud consolidated to propel the score to 102-2, before Joshua Persaud was caught for 43 off Emmanuel Secharran in the 24th over.
Yadram and Gavin Budwah then took Demerara to victory as they reached 203-2. Yadarm stroked polished unbeaten 121, which included 15 fours and three sixes, while Budwah was 22 not out.
Over at the Police Sports Club, play commenced at 13-30h due to early morning showers. The Select Under-17 won the toss and elected to bat. Their decision proved a worthwhile one, as openers Sachin Singh and Alex Algoo posted 157 for the first wicket, before Singh was run out for 52. His innings included five fours and three sixes.
However, the star of the day was Algoo, who blasted 119 before he was adjudged leg before trying to heave a delivery from Mahendra Persaud which he missed and was struck on the back foot, clearly in front of middle stump. Algoo’s century included nine fours and 10 sixes.
Essequibo bowlers then made favourable use of the Select Under-17 attempts to post a mammoth total, taking a number of quick wickets as the Under-17s plummeted from 205-1 to 222-7 off the allotted 28 overs.
Persaud was the pick of the bowlers with 3-29 off four overs, while there was one each for Mark Williams, Joshua Jones and Quintin Sampson.
In reply, Essequibo made a miserable start, losing two wickets within the first four overs with the score only on 16. Persaud and Stephon Campbell then combined to take Essequibo’s score to 104 before Persaud fell for a well-played 59.
Kurt Lovell then joined Campbell to guide the run chase, taking the score to 138 before Lovell was dismissed. Jones then walked to the crease and ably supported Campbell in the run chase, as the Select Under-17 appeared to lose their nerves in an extended period of high tension.
However, Gevon Schultz struck when he had Campbell caught at deep square leg, trying to hit the ball out of the park. Campbell was soon followed by three other quick wickets, inclusive of Jones for 33. Essequibo finished on 208, as the Select Under-17 won by 14 runs.
The third and final preliminary round will be played today (Thursday) with Berbice playing the Select Under-17 at the Everest ground and Demerara facing Essequibo at Providence.
