In a thrilling display of cricket, North Essequibo emerged champions of the Essequibo leg of the Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited Under-23 Inter-Club tournament.
In the county final, North Essequibo secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over East Bank Essequibo.
The intensity of the match was evident right from the beginning as East Bank Essequibo struggled to find their footing, being bowled out for a mere 66 runs.
Standout performances came from Shahid Vieira, who contributed 18 runs, and Azim Mohammed, who made 16.
These two were the only players to make an impact against North Essequibo’s formidable bowling attack.
North Essequibo exhibited exceptional teamwork, with skipper Lance Roberts, Sheldon Charles, Shaaziff Mohammed and Natron Gill each claiming two wickets.
Their combined effort proved crucial in dismantling East Bank Essequibo’s batting line-up and restricting them to the modest total.
North Essequibo’s chase began steadily, with opener Rajendra Ramballi leading the charge.
His unbeaten 34 runs, embellished with four boundaries, demonstrated his composure and skill at the crease.
The team achieved the target of 68 runs with seven wickets to spare, achieving victory in just 18.2 overs.
Despite the valiant efforts of in-form National Under-19 spinner Aryan Persaud, who managed to secure two wickets for East Bank Essequibo, their bowlers struggled to defend the low total.
North Essequibo showcased their dominance and ability to rise to the occasion as this victory solidified their position as a formidable contender in the National tournament.
North Essequibo will be joined by the two other county champions in the national playoffs.
The boys from Albion have won the Berbice championship, while the Demerara champions will be determined this week.
On Monday (September 4), hosts Demerara Cricket Club will face Lusignan in the Demerara semi-final, with the winner facing West Demerara in the county final on Tuesday (September 5).
The national semi-final takes place on Thursday (September 7) at GCC, with the winner facing the other team that has drawn the bye to the final, which takes place on Friday (September 8) at the same venue.
