The first round of the 2018 GCB/Hand In Hand Insurance Under-19 Inter-County 3 Day tournament concluded on Thursday 12th April, 2018, with Demerara defeating the Select Under-17 team. The Select Under-17 having been asked to follow on, resumed their second innings on their overnight score of 11 for 1, and gave a much better performance reaching 253 before being bowled out five minutes before the start of the 15 mandatory overs in the last hour.

A defiant batting displayed by Yeudistir Persaud, who was unbeaten on 90 at the end of the match, almost thwarted Demerara’s hopes of pulling off an outright victory, by putting the Demerara fielders to the test, as he played with much control and tolerance in helping his team to bat for majority of the last day in an effort to save the match. However, Persaud’s innings was not just characterized merely by occupying the crease, but demonstrated high levels of match awareness, alertness to score, as he rotated the strike and picked up the odd boundaries.

Persaud was well supported by Andre Seepersaud 48, Nigel Deodat 37 and Andrew Samaroo 30 who all gave the Demerara team great resistance as they sought to draw the match. However, Demerara’s Dwayne Dick grabbed 6 for 110 from 35 overs, gaving Demerara their victory shortly before the commencement of the last hour. Ashmead Nedd bowled splendidly to end with 3 for 32 from 17.4 overs, as he took the last wicket of Sheldon Charles adjudged LBW for Duck, to send the Demerara team into Jubilation and Yeudistir Persaud 10 runs short of a century, as he was left not out on 90, with at least 15 overs remaining in the match.

Demerara won by an innings and 56 runs.

Round two commenced on Saturday 14th April, 2018 with Demerara doing battle with Berbice at GCC grounds while Essequibo faced the Select Under-17 team at Everest. Matches commenced from 10 00 hours.