Openers Alex Algoo and Sachin Singh struck half-centuries to highlight the latest round of matches in the Guyana T10 Blast, which resumed on Tuesday after a series of matches were abandoned due to rain.
In a double-header at the Enmore Community Centre ground, Algoo’s second half-century of the competition powered Berbice Caimans to a commanding 61-run win over a depleted Demerara Hawks, while Singh’s highest score of the tournament helped Demerara Pitbulls to an eight-run success against Berbice Piranhas.
Demerara Pitbulls defeated Berbice Piranhas by eight runs
SUMMARY: Demerara Pitbulls 109-2 from 10 overs (Sachin Singh 50, Junior Sinclair 38, Christopher Barnwell 13*; Rickey Sargeant 1-18, Sagar Hathiramani 1-20) vs Berbice Piranhas 101-4 from 10 overs (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 29*, Veerasammy Permaul 26*, Rajiv Ivan 14, Quentin Sampson 10, Ronaldo Renee 10; Junior Sinclair 2-14, Jonathan Rampersaud 1-12, Christopher Barnwell 1-23)
Inserted to take first strike on a pitch with some moisture, Demerara Pitbulls made 109-2, a total that was way lower than the projection when openers Junior Sinclair and Sachin Singh were dominating the bowling.
The pair piled up 76 for the first wicket in just six overs, with Sinclair making the initial charge with a rapid 38 off 20 balls, an innings that included five towering sixes.
The left-handed Singh was circumspect at the start, but then grew in confidence to score his first fifty of the T10 Blast. The former national youth player cracked five sixes and two fours, his even-fifty spanning just 22 balls.
Piranhas came back well at the ‘death’ of the innings, keeping dangerman Christopher Barnwell quiet, as he ended on a run-a-ball 13 and Damion Vantull four off five. Rickey Sargeant and Sagar Hatharamani were the wicket-takers.
In reply, Piranhas were kept 101-4 from the allotted 10 overs, with opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul batting to the end, striking two sixes in an unbeaten 29 off 23.
Skipper Veerasammy Permaul tried to give the innings impetus, hitting two sixes and a four in 26 off 17, but his effort was a tad too late. Rajiv Ivan made 14 off 8, Quentin Sampson and Ronaldo Renee got 10 each.
Bowling for Pitbulls, off-spinner Sinclair crowned a fine day with 2-14, while there was a wicket each for Jonathan Rampersaud and Barnwell.
Berbice Caimans defeated Demerara Hawks by 61 runs
SUMMARY: Berbice Caimans 104-3 from 10 overs (Alex Algoo 67, Kevlon Anderson 17, Jonathan Van Lange 10*, Kevin Sinclair 10; Akshaya Persaud 1-9, Totaram Bishun 1-19, Sheldon Charles 1-32) vs Demerara Hawks 43-8 from 10 overs (Tommani Caesar 13, Zeynul Ramsammy 12; Myheim Khan 3-8, Steven Sankar 1-8, Aryan Persaud 1-8, Kevin Sinclair 1-13)
In game two of the day, Caimans pulled off a commanding win, led by the in-form Alex Algoo.
The big-hitting right-hander followed up his brutal 80 off 27 balls against the Hawks in the earlier round, with another belligerent innings, smashing eight sixes and a four in 67 off 27 in a total of 104-3.
The knock formed the base of the winning total, with Kevlon Anderson (17), Jonathan Van Lange (10*) and Kevin Sinclair (10) making important contributions.
Akshaya Persaud (1-9), Totaram Bishun (1-19) and Sheldon Charles (1-32) were the wicket-takers.
Hawks, with only nine players available, responded with 43-8 with Tommani Caesar making 13 and Zeynul Ramsammy 12.
Off-spinner Myheim Khan was outstanding with the ball, taking 3-8 off two overs, while Steven Sankar (1-8), Aryan Persaud (1-8) and Kevin Sinclair (1-13) were also among the wickets.
The competition continues on Wednesday with another double-header at Enmore from noon.
