Essequibo triumphed over Berbice in a thrilling encounter at the Pomona Cricket Ground on Sunday, marking the venue’s first-ever Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-County match.
The memorable clash saw Ricardo Adams produce a match-winning performance with both bat and ball, leading Essequibo to a dramatic victory.
The experienced Adams picked up a five-wicket haul and then muscled a quickfire fifty as Essequibo made light work of a target of 204.
Berbice, batting first, struggled against a disciplined Essequibo bowling attack, being dismissed for 203 in 45.1 overs.
Test player Kevin Sinclair top-scored with 39 off 42 (4x4s, 2x6s), while opener and national Under-19 player Rampertab Ramnauth contributed 38 off 53 (4x4s, 1×6).
Skipper Veerasammy Permaul added 30 off 53 (1×4, 1×6) and Tomani Caesar scored 20 off 35 (2x4s) to guide Berbice to a 200+ total.
Adams was the destroyer-in-chief, claiming 5-25 from his 10-over spell. Ronsford Beaton also played his part with two wickets, while Garfield Phillips, Malcolm Hubbard and Antony Adams chipped in with a wicket each.
In reply, Essequibo found themselves in trouble early, losing four wickets for just 32 runs, with Clinton Pestano dismantling the top order, eventually finishing with figures of 3-29 from five overs.
At this critical juncture, captain Antony Adams and Guyana Harpy Eagles player Kemol Savory steadied the ship with a 66-run partnership, with Savory scoring 34 before being dismissed.
Ricardo Adams then joined his captain at the crease, and together they turned the match in Essequibo’s favour.
Their 94-run stand took Essequibo to the brink of victory, with Ricardo smashing five sixes and two fours in his 60 off 47 balls. He was dismissed with Essequibo 12 runs away from the win.
Antony Adams ensured there were no further setbacks, remaining unbeaten on 60 off 87 (8x4s, 1×6) to guide Essequibo to a historic success.
Junior Sinclair and Kevin Sinclair each took a wicket for Berbice, but the combined efforts of the Adams duo proved too much for the visitors.
In the other first round game on Sunday, defending champions Demerara defeated the GCB Select XI by 105 runs at the GCC ground, Bourda.
SUMMARY: Demerara 258-9 from 50 overs (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 102*, Akshaya Persaud 80, Tevin Imlach 29; Carlos La Rose 4-41, Jonathan Van Lange 2-51) vs GCB Select XI 153 all out from 43 overs (Kwesi Mickle 51, Ushardeva Balgobin 27, Jonathon Rampersaud 26, Brandon Jaikarran 25; Devon Lord 3-21, Richie Looknauth 2-19, Steven Sankar 2-41)
Round Two of the Inter-County competition will be played on Tuesday (October 15) with Berbice versus Demerara at the GCC Ground, Bourda, and Essequibo against the GCB Select XI at the Lusignan ground, East Coast Demerara.
Both matches will bowl off at 09:30h.
