U-15 Inter-county: Rain wipes out Dem./Berbice encounter; Rising Stars beat Essequibo

Rain once again affected the ongoing Dave West Indian Imports sponsored Inter-county Under-15 50-over tournament, and this time, it caused no play between arch-rivals Demerara and Berbice at the #69 Village ground on Monday.

Seepage under the covers after overnight rain meant the 09:00h scheduled start was pushed to 11:30h.

After the toss, Demerara elected to field, and soon as the play was about to start, the rain returned and that proved to be the final act for the day on the field.

The match was initially slated to be played at the Albion Sports Complex, but was shifted to Upper Corentyne due to Albion’s “waterlogged outfield”, a Guyana Cricket Board personnel indicated.

At Everest Cricket Club, Rising Stars got the better of Essequibo by four wickets, led by Jonathon Mentore, who scored an unbeaten 29 and snapped up 2-35.

Essequibo set Rising Stars a target of 163 and it was Mentore’s solidity that crossed them over the line as he hit one four in his 91-ball stay in the middle.

Yet again, extras piled up, and Stars gave Essequibo 53 additional runs which complimented knocks from Arvin Suknanand (27), Keron Phillips (21), Dravid Manohar (15), and Hemant Sukhdeo (14*).

Varendra Pooran took 2-15 for Essequibo, who reached 162-4 from their allotted 50-overs.

Essequibo got a 51-run opening stand from Ethon Silas and Omarion Smith.

Silas returned hurt with two from 73 balls, while Smith made 29 (3x4s) from 85 balls.

Nicholas Lovell and Zandon Rose then added 94 runs for the third wicket.

Rose made 51 (5x4s; 1×6) from 61 balls, while Lovell ended unbeaten on 38, as medium-pacer Mentore plucked out key wickets to put the brakes on Essequibo.