Demerara commenced their quest for 50-over supremacy in the Hand-in-Hand Under-19 Inter-county tournament with a comprehensive seven-wicket over the National Select U-17 team at Everest on Monday.
Chasing a paltry 118 from the full quota of overs, the Demerara lads were led by West Indies Youth player Sachin Singh, who stroked a Man-of-the-Match knock of 31 from 56 balls.
The hard-hitting left-hander struck two sixes and one four, before top-edging off-spinner Ajay Gainda (1-19) down to long-off. His dismissal ended a 72-run opening stand in 21.1 overs with Robin Williams, who made 32 (2x4s; 1×6) from 75 balls.
Andre Seepersaud (1-14) trapped Williams leg before, while Adrian Hinds was needlessly run-out for an up-tempo 22 (2x4s; 1×6). Yeudister Persaud (14*) and Alphius Bookie (06*) sealed the inevitable in 35.2 overs.
The U-17s batted first after winning the toss, slipping to 34-2 in 14.3 overs, then 53-4 ten overs later.
Seepersaud showed some fight with 30 (4x4s) from 51 balls, but apart from opener Rampertab Ramnauth’s 19 (3x4s) and Zeynul Ramsammy’s 13, the rest of the batting failed to make an impression. There were three run-outs and one dismissal via a stumping.
Extras amounted to 21 which got them over the triple-figure mark. Captain Ashmead Nedd took 2-10 in 9.5 overs, while Singh had 1-6 in five overs. Pacer Qumar Torrington took 1-31, while Pradesh Ballkishun, Zachary Jodah and Daniel Mootoo had one a piece.
At Albion, Berbice won by six wickets in pursuit of 124, led by Junior Sinclair (58) and Kevlon Anderson (28) with a brisk 71-run partnership for the third wicket. Ultimately, they raced to 124-4 from 24.5 overs.
Garfield Benjamin and Carl Gilgeous were unbeaten on 17 and one respectively, as Elion Whyte, Romario Stephen, Amit Persaud and Mahesh Ramnarine shared the wickets to fall.
Essequibo posted 123 all out from 42.4 overs. Opening batsman Orlando Jailall top-scored with 37 followed by Ameer Singh with 16.
Spinners Nigel Deodat and Sinclair were the most successful bowlers, grabbing 2-16 and 2-22 respectively.
In the second round on Wednesday, Berbice and Demerara will battle at Everest, while the Select U-17s and Essequibo will clash at the Georgetown Cricket Club.
