It’s not often that someone bowls 10 overs for 16 runs then makes an entertaining 95 to take the Man-of-the-Match and their team does not win. But that is exactly what happened yesterday at Bourda for Berbice Captain Kevin St Clair when defending champions Demerara gained a narrow six-run last over win in the final round match in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-17 50-over Inter-County tournament to continue their dominance at this level.
St Clair arguably the best all-rounder in the competition, bowled a miserly spell off-spin in which he only conceded 16 runs in contrast to pacer Sayad Peirbask’s 2-60 from eight overs as Demerara, opted to bat first and reached 189-9 when their overs expired.
But it was almost a one-man show by St Clair who could not prevent his team from being bowled out in the last over for 183. Left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (3-28 from 10 overs) and Antony Antionio (2-32 from 10) were the best bowlers from the Gavin Nedd Coached Demerara unit.
Joshua Persaud, who reached his 50 from 107 balls, stroked four boundaries in a 112-ball 57 and shared in partnerships of 49 for the fifth wicket with Sagar Hatheramani who was run out for 24 and 35 for the seventh with Anthony Antonio (16).
Baskar Yadram, who stroked 33 from 40 balls with three fours and Robin Williams, who made 15 with two fours, had earlier given them a solid 30-run start. Left-arm spinner Keith Simpson (2-18 from 10) and Kelvin Umroa (1-24 from 10 overs) were the main wicket takers on a flat track and fast outfield.
Berbice, set 190 to win, seemed well on course for an upset win when Kevin St Clair, who fashioned a delightful 125-ball 95 with eight fours and Kevin Anderson who made 28 from 90 balls added 100 for the fifth wicket.
But once Anderson was bowled at 147-5 by the experienced Nedd who has already represented his County, the task of sustaining the run chase was too much for the exhausted St Clair, whose only flaw was trying to hit the ball too hard, sacrificing placement for power.
St Clair was run out at 177-7 and Nedd took two quick wickets to leave them needing 10 from seven balls. Demerara retained their title which they have won for the last four years when Berbice were bowled out for 183 with four balls to spare.
Man of the match Reon Venture from Essequibo, accepts his prize from Match Referee Grantley Culbard
At DCC, Essequibo thumped select U-15 by 107 runs.Essequibo were indebted to Reon Venture who stabilised the innings with an unbeaten 53 as they posted a respectable 214-9 after they decided to bat at the Demerara Cricket Club. Pacer Joshua Jones and left arm spinner Joel Fortune then shared six wickets between them as the Select XI were sent packing for 107 in 34.2 overs in reply.
Joshua Jones and Kevin Christian added 23 for the first wicket before Jones who was surprisingly chosen to open the batting was removed by pacer Daniel Paul playing in his first match for 11.
Paul who extracted lateral movement then removed Christian for 09 to leave Essequibo at 28-2. Orlando Jailall (08) was then caught off pacer Jerron Schultz before Bomesh Ramdahin and Shamar Dusraj took the score to 89, but in an attempt to increase the scoring rate Dusraj was bowled by Michael Pooran playing in his first game for 15.
Chanderpaul Mohabir and Venture then added 35 for the fifth wicket before Mohabir who struck two fours and two sixes was caught off Seon Glasgow for 28. Quitine Sampson was then caught and bowled by Dwayne Dick without scoring before Venture and Trevor Collins featured in a seven-wicket stand of 79; off-spinner Glasgow removed Collins for 34 as The Select U15 team fought back in favourable sunshine.
Despite losing a few more wickets, Venture batted sensibly to rally his team to a defendable total. He took boundaries off pacer Schultz and off spinner Dick and reached his well deserve half century with a single to fine leg; he faced 73 balls and hit four fours and one six. Nigel Deodat claimed 2-15 while Paul had 2-27.
The Select XI reply got off to a poor start when pacer Shamar Dusraj bowled Sachin Singh for three with the score on 17. Andrew Samaroo struck three fours before he was taken off left arm spinner Joel Fortune for 16 with the score on 36.
Persaud and Glasgow added 31 for the third wicket with level headed batting before Persaud was bowled by Fortune for 23. Fortune then removed Marvan Prashad for one before Glasgow who hit two fours in scoring 26 was caught and bowled by Quintine Sampson for 26.
Dwayne Dick was the only other batsman to show some resistance with 16 (2×4) as Joshua Jones who finished with 3-22 mopped up the rest of the batting. Fortune had 3-29. Venture was named man-of-the-match.
(Taken from Kaieteur News)