Abdul Ramsammy turned in a brilliant all-round performance to lead Essequibo Anacondas to an exciting one-run win over Essequibo Jaguars in the Guyana T10 Blast on Friday at the Malteenoes ground.
In the second match of a double-header, Demerara Pitbulls walked away 14-run winners over the Berbice Piranhas.
Superb Ramsammy steals the show in nail-biter
SUMMARY: Essequibo Anacondas 73-7 from 10 overs (Abdul Ramsammy 35*, Joshua Jones 9*; Dwain Dick 2-2, Ashmead Nedd 1-9, Joemal La Fleur 1-10, Nial Smith 1-17) vs Essequibo Jaguars 72-7 from 10 overs (Chandrapaul Hemraj 39, Kemol Savory 12; Abdul Ramsammy 2-9, Qumar Torrington 1-10, Kwesi Mickle 1-19, Bruce Vincent 1-26)
Click here to see photos of Anacondas vs Jaguars
In a closely contested match that came alive in the dying stage, Ramsammy was entrusted with the ball to defend four off the final over.
He came up trumps, conceding just two runs, claiming two wickets in two balls and effecting a run out off the last delivery to hand his side the narrowest of wins.
Ramsammy picked up 2-9 off two overs as Jaguars were kept to 72-7 in response to Anacondas 73-7.
Jaguars were on course for victory after opener Chandrapaul Hemraj and Kemol Savory put on a half-century partnership for the second wicket after the early loss of Shemroy Barrington without scoring.
Hemraj played a brutal hand of 39 off 16, smashing three fours and four sixes, while Savory made 12 off 14.
Jaguars suffered a collapse after their departure with Ramsammy’s two, and a wicket each from Qumar Torrington, Kwesi Mickle and Bruce Vincent bringing Anacondas back in contention.
Earlier, Dwain Dick took two wickets, and Joemal La Fleur, Ashmead Nedd and Nial Smith bagged one each as Anacondas slipped to 23-6 by the sixth over.
Ramsammy however, led a brilliant recovery to see them reach 73-7, hitting six fours and six in an unbeaten 35 off 15. He was the only batter to reach double-figures, with Joshua Jones with an unbeaten nine the next best.
Not surprisingly, Ramsammy was named Player-of-the-Match.
Pitbulls reign supreme against Piranhas
SUMMARY: Demerara Pitbulls 93-7 from 10 overs (Sachin Singh 34, Jonathon Rampersaud 13*, Damian Vantull 13, Leon Swammy 12; Sagar Hathiramani 2-18) vs Berbice Piranhas 79-9 from 10 overs (Rajiv Ivan 25, Rickey Sergeant 20; Leon Swammy 2-10, Christopher Barnwell 2-17, Keon Sinclair 2-21)
In game two of the double-header, Sachin Singh cracked 34 at the top to power Demerara Pitbulls to 93-7. Jonathon Rampersaud (13*), Damian Vantull (13) and Leon Swammy (12) all chipped in with Sagar Hathiramani taking 2-18.
Piranhas then fell short at 79-9 when the overs ran out with Rajiv Ivan making 25 and Rickey Sergeant 20.
Swammy (2-10), Player-of-the-Match Christopher Barnwell (2-17) and Keon Sinclair (2-21) were the leading wicket-takers.
The competition will continue on Saturday with a triple-header at the Meten-Meer-Zorg ground, with the first match set to start at 09:30h.
