Last year’s Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/National Secondary Schools Cricket League (NSSCL) Under-17 champions, Chase Academy, sent a strong message to their competitors when they recorded a huge win in the first round of the ‘Winner of Winners’ Inter-Zone phase of the 2016/2017 NSSCL, defeating East Georgetown Zone Champions, Tutorial High School, by 73 runs.
The 2015/2016 nationwide champions and the present 2016/2017 GCB/DMLAS/MOE/NSSCL North Georgetown Zone champions, Chase Academy, opened this year’s Inter Zone/District Winners Challenge Trophy by clearly marking their presence in an emphatic manner.
Tutorial High School, who won the toss and then elected to bowl first on Tuesday, appeared to have made the correct decision, as their bowlers made Chase Academy batsmen work diligently for their runs, restricting the star-studded Chase Academy, which featured prominent national youth players Sachin Singh and Ashmead Nedd, for apparent meagre 149 off 29 of their allotted 30 overs.
Singh continued his good form by recording a half-century (52), while Nedd made 35, Garrick Persaud 17 and Tyrese Crawford 11.
Bowling for Tutorial High School, off spinners Joel Spooner and Devon Allen were the main penetrators into the Chase Academy batting line-up, combining to take five valuable wickets. Spooner ended with 3-12 from six overs, and Allen 2-15 from four overs, while fast bowler Osapha Greene, Omiha Liverpool, Zion Gray and Dewan Skeete each took a wicket apiece.
Set 150 for victory, Tutorial High school batsmen buoyantly went to the wicket, but seemingly found the going tough, as occupying the crease and scoring runs became very challenging attributes to attain. They could only muster 76 off 14.3 overs with Osapha Greene making 15, Dewan Skeete 14 and Raphael Edingboro 15 not out.
Bowling for Chase Academy, Nedd grabbed 4-4 from 4.4 extraordinary overs, Dwayne Dick clutched 4-18 from six impressive overs and Singh seized 2-13 from three overs.
When Tutorial meets South Georgetown Zone Winners on Thursday at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, their batsmen will be well advised to be more tolerant, watchful and selective in the stroke place, while it is hoped that their bowlers will improve on their already impressive performance in this match.
On Thursday, Charlestown Secondary will take on Tutorial High School at the DCC ground from 11:00h, as these two schools and Chase Academy compete for the Georgetown District Trophy.
On Friday, Parika Salem Secondary will oppose Leguan Secondary in Leguan, and the New Amsterdam/Canje Zone champions, Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), will meet Corentyne Zone winners at the Albion Community Centre. The Corentyne Zone final is also scheduled for Thursday at the Albion Community Centre.
