By Avenash Ramzan
Demerara and Berbice recorded victories on Tuesday to remain unbeaten in the Guyana Cricket Board’s Male Under-15 Inter-county 50-over competition on an overcast day in the city.
The allotment of overs in both games was significantly reduced, with Demerara defeating Essequibo by 67 runs in a 32-over match at the Demerara Cricket Club, and Berbice getting the better of the Select XI by 25 runs in a 20-over game at the Malteenoes Sports Club.
The third and final round of matches on Thursday (February 1) will see table-toppers Demerara and Berbice battling for the title at the Demerara Cricket Club in Queenstown, and Essequibo against the Select XI at the Malteenoes Sports Club on Thomas Lands.
Weather permitting, both matches will start at 09:30h.
Ram, Seegobin and Lewis star for Demerara
SUMMARY: Demerara 149-8 from 32 overs (Parmeshwar Ram 51, Khush Seegobin 49, Shamar Apple 20; Jathaniel Nurse 3-30, Shazim Mohamed 2-12) vs Essequibo 82-8 from 17.4 overs (Omario Smith 16, Eron Benjamin 14, Jathaniel Nurse 13, Justin Dowlin 12; Emmanuel Lewis 3-29, Mickel Sharma 2-1)
Demerara skipper Emmanuel Lewis won the toss and elected to bat first in game that started at 13:05h.
Openers Parmeshwar Ram and Khush Seegobin raced away with an opening partnership of 95 in 18 overs, with the left-handed Ram hitting a fine 51 off 69 balls (5x4s, 1×6) to follow up his 117 in the first round against the Select XI.
After Ram was dismissed by Bhomesh Lall, Essequibo bowlers pulled back the game nicely, taking wickets frequently and keeping a tight rein on proceedings.
Seegobin narrowly missed out on a fifty, falling for 49 off 73 (4x4s, 1×6), while the hard-hitting left-hander Shamar Apple was the only other player to reach double figures with 20 off 15 (3x4s).
Lewis, fresh off a splendid 160 in the opening round, managed only four, getting a top edge off the impressive Shazim Mohamed and skying a catch to backward point.
Jathaniel Nurse followed up his 3-9 in the opening round against Berbice with 3-30 of six overs, while Mohamed picked up 2-12 off four overs, the first two of which were maidens.
Essequibo made a disastrous start to the run-chase with Lewis removing Bhomesh Lall and Jeremiah Melville, both without scoring in the second over.
Lewis added a third to finish with 3-29 and spinner Mickel Sharma grabbed 2-1, as Essequibo were kept to 82-8 from 17.4 overs, with their last two batsmen Makayah Holmes and Mohamed unable to bat.
Omario Smith made 16, Eron Benjamin 14, Jathaniel Nurse 13 and Justin Dowlin 12.
Runs for Hetmyer, wickets for Ramdeholl
SUMMARY: Berbice 134-7 from 20 overs (Adrian Hetmyer 55, Chamesh Seenauth 22, Sohail Mohamed 21, Lakeram Singh 15; Gilbert Griffith 3-20, Ahil Hemraj 1-19, Danvir Seegobin 1-27) vs Select XI 109-5 from 20 overs (Rivaldo Perreira 25, Danvir Seegobin 22, Ravid Fredericks 21; Richard Ramdeholl 3-22)
Batting first, Berbice posted 134-7 from the allotted 20 overs with the prolific Adrian Hetmyer topscoring with a crisp 55 off 45 balls (4x4s, 1×6). It was the right-hander’s first significant score of the competition after falling for four in the first round against Essequibo.
Opener Chamesh Seenauth scored a run-a-ball 22 (1×4, 1×6), while Sohail Mohamed made 21 off 16 (2x4s, 1×6) and Lakeram Singh 15 off 22 (1×4).
Gilbert Griffith led the bowling effort for Select XI with 3-20, while there was a wicket each for Danvir Seegobin and Ahil Beharry.
In reply, Select XI had a positive approach to the chase, with an opening partnership of 54 in 11 overs between Seegobin (22 off 41) and Ravid Fredericks (21 off 41).
Rivaldo Perreira slammed two sixes and a four in a brisk 25 off 15, but the Berbice bowlers defended well, limiting the Select XI to 109-5.
Richard Ramdeholl was the lone wicket-taker with 3-22, and also effected one of the two runs out.
In the opening round, Demerara defeated Select XI by 265 runs and Berbice prevailed over Essequibo by 12 runs.
