Limacol Cup… Demerara on course for outright win against Essequibo

– GT& T Berbice take first innings points from President’s XI

By Rajiv Bisnauth –

Demerara looked on course for an outright victory after Essequibo stumbled to 45 for 5 batting a second time in their second round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) NEW GPC Inc-sponsored Inter-County two-day Under-15 tournament at the Wales Community Centre ground on Wednesday.

After being bowled out for 66 in 35.4 overs in their first innings that gave Demerara a lead of 83 runs, Essequibo were still with a deficit of 38 runs with five second wickets remaining when play ended on the opening day.
Regular opener Mark Williams, who batted at number five, is unbeaten on 20. Bowling for Demerara Keshram Shewprasad and Timothy Mc Almont have so far claimed two wickets apiece while Ronaldo Mohamed is the other successful bowler in Demerara’s second innings.
Earlier, Essequibo who went under to Berbice by 181 runs in their first round encounter, won the toss and opted to take first strike on an uneven Wales pitch but the hapless looking Essequibo batting lineup could not produce a significant total.
Demerara made steady inroads in the Essequibo batting with the only other resistance coming from Mark Williams (16) and Randy Ruplall (15).
Ashmead Nedd was the best bowler for Demerara with 3 for 1; Colin Barlow (2-16), Sagar Hetheramani (2-18) and Keshram Shewprasad (1-17) were the other contributors with the ball.
In reply, Demerara reached 149 for 9 off their allotted 40 overs. Ronaldo Mohamed topscored with 35 (3×4). He received support from Stephan Campbell (29), Jaddel Mc Allister (22) and Bhaskar Yadram (18). Bowling for Essequibo Redell Reddy snatched 2-6, Sachin Persaud, 2-20, Christopher Latchman, 2-29, while Mark Williams had 1-10.
Over at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, defending champions, GT& T Berbice claimed first innings points over the President’s X1. The President’s XI after trailing GT& T Berbice by 26 runs, batted a second time and reached 68 for 1, an overall lead of 42 runs with nine second innings wickets remaining.
Raymond Perez and Richie Lucknauth will resume today (Thursday) on 44 and nine respectively.
Earlier, after winning the toss and decided to bat first, the President’s XI made a positive start to their innings but a shocking slump saw their side stutter from 53 without loss to 99 all out off 31.5 overs, 20 minutes before lunch.
Raymond Perez (39) and Darshan Persaud (17) were the only two batsmen that offered any resistance but when Persaud was dismissed via the run out route the President’s XI’s last nine wickets only managed 46 runs.

Joshua Gobin was the most successful GT& T Berbice bowler with 3 for 22 from eight overs. Sylus Tyndall claimed 2-21 while Adrian Suloway, Joel Seetaram and Joshua Harrichand all took one wicket each.
GT& T Berbice in their first innings reached 125 for 9 of 44 overs with Adrian Suloway topscoring with 42. Rameshwar Somwaru, 15, Joshua Harrichand, 14, Joel Seetaram, 12, and Filon Crandon, 10, were the other batsmen to reach double figures.
Richie Lucknauth (2-18), Vickram Talmakund (2-43) were the most successful bowlers for the President’s XI.
Meanwhile, defending champions GT&T Berbice lead the points’ table after round one with 15 points, twelve points for the victory over Essequibo and three bonus points for every wicket taken by their fast bowlers.
Demerara gained six points for taking first innings from the GCB President’s XI and three bonus points to take their tally to nine points.