By: Zaheer Mohamed (Kaieteur News)

Spearheaded by a five wicket haul from leg spinner Amir Khan and an unbeaten 90 from openerRajendra Chandrika, Demerara defeated Essequibo by seven wickets in the final round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior four-day Inter-County tournament yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda.

Khan grabbed 5-31 as Essequibo were bowled out for 145 after lunch in their second innings before Chandrika led Demerara’s chase, hitting eleven fours and one six. Leading by 137 with four wickets intact, Essequibo resumed on their overnight score of 101-6 with Ricardo Adams on 62 and Mark Tyrell on two.

Adams timed the ball well, sweeping Khan for four and driving pacer Paul Wintz through covers before Khan had Tyrell (07) caught at forward short leg with the score on 127. The left handed Adams continued to inch his way to what seemed a likely century with nudges and pushes and dispatched the wayward balls rather easily.

Ronsford Beaton, playing in his first match of the competition, played across the line and was bowled by Khan for seven leaving Essequibo at 139-8. Kevon Boodie who retired hurt on the second day soon lost his stumps to Khan for four, leaving only Hemchand Persaud to partner Adams.

The home team’s skipper Vishal Singh decided to spread the field with Adams three short of a century. But the batsman attempted to clear the ropes off left arm spinner Raj Nanan and was caught at mid-wicket off the second ball in the over.

He batted for 190 minutes and faced 158 balls, hitting eleven fours and one six. Khan was ably supported by Nanan 2-29 and Zaheer Mohamed 2-31. Chasing 181, Demerara lost Trevon Griffith (09) caught off Beaton with the score on 22.

However Shemroy Barrington and Chandrika steadied the innings with a second wicket stand of 90. Barrington middled the ball well and took boundaries off Anthony Adams and Persaud while Chandrika flicked Beaton through mid-wicket to get off the mark.

The right handed Chandrika then cut Royan Fredericks to the point boundary before driving Beaton through long-on.

He continued to accumulate his runs and soon reached fifty with a six off Tulsieram Premnauth over midwicket.

After batting for 110 minutes, Barrington was run out for 38; he picked up five fours and faced 72 balls. Chandrika batted fluently and played a number of handsome shots on both sides of the pitch. He cut Ricardo Adams for boundaries and added 46 for the third wicket with Singh (15) to take his team closer to victory.

Singh’s dismissal, caught at short fine leg off Anthony Adams proved to be Essequibo’s last success as Chandrika and Barnwell (16*) carried their team to safety. Chandrika faced 180 balls and slammed eleven fours and one six in 120 minutes. Beaton (1-24) and Anthony Adams (1-65) were the wicket takers for Essequibo.