In-form opening batsman Renaldo Renee stroked a classy half century to lead Demerara to first innings honours against Essequibo, claiming the 3-Day title of the GCB/HIH U-19 Inter-County Competition at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground. And Bhaskar Yadram brilliant 177 saw the U-17s getting the better of Berbice at the Wales Community Centre ground.
Renaldo Renee receiving his man-of-the-match trophy from Hand-in-Hand representative in the presence of the match referee
Renee, who was named man of the match for the third consecutive game following up his 67 and 165 not out in the previous two matches with another composed and classy innings of 99 as Demerara made 240 all out replying to 196 made by Essequibo. His knock included seven fours and one six as he continues to show his class in this year’s under-19 Inter-County 3-Day tournament.
Demerara resumed their overnight score of 16/0 replying to Essequibo’s 196. They made Essequibo work hard in the field as the openers took the score to 73 before Raymond Perez, who scored 113 in the previous match against Berbice was dismissed for 23. The Essequibo bowlers then claimed to more wickets quickly to leave Demerara 96/3 and a chance to score another upset victory following their innings defeat of Berbice.
However, Renee and the captain, Travis Persaud, settled any nerves within the Demerara dressing room with a partnership of 39 which took the score to 135/4 when Persaud was dismissed for 18 stumped off the bowling of Adams. Renee was a rock at the next end as he worked his way to what would have been a second consecutive century following his 165 not out made against Berbice in the previous round. However, it wasn’t to be as he fell to a trap just one run short of a century trying to hit left arm spinner Akinie Adams over a vacant midwicket area. The field set was a deliberately tactic to try to get the right handed Renee to hit over the infield as Essequibo skipper Keemo Paul who brought in the field not allowing any easy singles forcing Renee to try to hit over the top but he only succeeded in top edging to backward point where Paul himself took a diving catch. Renaldo Mohamed contributed 35 towards the end to help Demerara get to 240 before they were bowled out just after tea.
Adams continued his impressive form with the ball finishing with figures of 6/87 off 36.5 overs. Looknauth Chinkoo also bowled well claiming 3/43.
Essequibo then negotiated the final period of play weathering the storm as fast bowlers Renaldo Mohamed and Sherfane Rutherford bowl a barrage of short pitch bowling to finish on 66-1. Mark Williams was the batsman dismissed for 42. Nathan Persaud was not out on 19 when play was called off and deemed drawn.
At the other encounter at wales ground, Bhaskar Yadram slammed a brilliant 177 to ensure the U-17s secure first innings against Berbice in a drawn match. Having added just nine runs to their overnight 21/0, Sachin Singh was bowled by Sylus Tyndal for nine, to make the score on 30/1. The wicket of Sachin Singh may also have been aided by the wicket keeper Ritesh Omroa, who had just hugged the stumps to fast bowler Tyndal, clearly created some crucial pressure on the batsman. Thereafter, Joshua Persaud was bowled by fast bowler Raymond Vankenic with the score on 58/2. The National Select Under-17, then did some level of repairs to 153/2 at lunch, with Bhaskar Yadram unbeaten on 93 and Steve Deonarine on 26 not out. .
Bhaskar Yadram came out after lunch and continued to look composed, eventually bringing up his century with a clip off the legs for 2 runs through the backward square region from a Raymond Vankenic full and in swinging delivery. Bhaskar Yadram even century included 11 fours and 3 sixes.
However, as Yadram increase the tempo, Steve Deonarine’s faith of achieving a big score was smashed as he was bowled by Sylus Tyndal for 31 from an accurate and well executed Yorker with the score on 207 for 3.
Bhaskar Yadram was eventually out with the score on 277/4, for a brilliant 177, caught by wicket keeper Ritesh Omroa off Raymond Vankenic from a good length delivery that took the outer edge of his bat as it left the batsman. With the score on 280, Kevin Sinclair was then adjudged Lbw to fast bowler Sylus Tyndal for duck, trying to turn a ball too square and missing in the process, the pitched up in swinging delivery that hit the batsman just over the angle roll.
Joel Seetaram then made two important breakthroughs for Berbice, by having Alphius Bookie trapped LBW, with the score on 299, and then immediately had Ashmead Nedd bowled for duck to make the score 299 for 7.
Sagar Hathramani was bowled for 20 by fast bowler Raymond Vankenic with the score on 325 for 8, and Anthony Antonio soon followed bowled by fast bowler Sylus Tyndal. Fast bowler Raymond Vankenic then wrapped up the National Select Under-17 innings at 327 by trapping Joshua Jones Leg before wicket.
At 16:33 hours during the last mandatory 15 overs, when just as Berbice was to take to the crease for the second time, the 2 captains decided to terminate the match, since the opportunities for an outright win were very slim.
(Sean Devers photo)