Essequibo and Berbice recorded wins on Thursday when the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Igloo Ice Cream sponsored Under-17 Inter-County 50-over tournament was played.
At the GCC ground, Bourda, defending champions Demerara batted first, seemingly with the intent to post a big score against Essequibo. However, Essequibo had other ideas and sent back national youth opener Sachin Singh for duck off the first ball of the day.
Demerara then lost the second wicket with the score on 20, when Adrian Hinds was bowled by Leon Swami for four. Alphius Bookie and Robin Williams then took the score to 52, before the latter was caught Parasotan off Lance Roberts for 18.
Without any addition to the score, Mark Rankin then sent back Pradesh Balkishun leg before for one to give Essequibo their fourth wicket, sinking Demerara into further trouble at 58-4.
Bookie, who spent some time at the crease, having begun his innings on the second ball of the day, was then adjudged leg before for 18 off the fourth ball of the eighteen over, off the bowling of Rankin.
Bookie’s dismissal left Demerara 69-5. Two wickets then quickly followed, as Ashmead Nedd was caught by Azeem Mohamed off Rankin for four, and Andrew Samaroo was caught by wicketkeeper Orlando Jailall off Lance Roberts for duck, to leave Demerara reeling at 71-7.
Himnauth Dindyal and Qumar Torrigton then pushed the score to 97 before Torrington was adjusted leg before off Swami for 10. Kester McAllester then joined Dindyal and rallied the score to 109 before Dindyal caught by Roberts off the bowling of Rankin for 18. Elion Whyte and McAllester then took the score to 127 before Whyte was caught for 12 off the bowling of Rankin.
Bowling for Essequibo, Rankin grabbed 5-23 off 9.5 overs, Leon Swami 2-22 from 10 overs, Lance Roberts 2-18 from nine overs, and fast medium bowler Reyaz Khan took the prized wicket of Sachin Singh.
In reply, Essequibo took a very careful and watchful approach to the run-chase. At 38, Essequibo lost their first wicket, that of Orlando Jailall in the eight over, bowled by BalKishun for 23.
Kevin Christian was the next batsman to be dismissed, bowled by Nedd for 29, to leave Essequibo 80-2. However, the Essequibo batsmen lost some level of stability, as five wickets fell relatively quickly, and Essequibo had to hold their nerves to secure victory, ending with 131-7.
Roberts flicked a ball through backward square for four complete a good all-round effort, ending on 29 not out to add to his two wickets. Rankin was adjudged Man-of-the-Match.
Over at Everest Guyana Select XI won the toss and batted first. However, they found the runs difficult to accumulate and could only muster a paltry 70. Richard Ramdehol made 16 and Abdul Ramsammy 10.
Bowling for Berbice, Kelvin Omroa grabbed 3-16 off 10 overs, Mahendra Dorasami 3-13 off six overs and Kelvon Anderson 3-2 off 1.3 overs.
In reply, Berbice made light work of their target, reaching 71-1 off just 11.4 overs. Alex Algu slammed 43, while Brandon Mangal and Junior Sinclair was left not out on 14 and three respectively.
Daniel Mootoo was the lone wicket-taker for the Guyana Under-15 Select XI, as Algu was named Man-of-the-Match.
