Anna Regina Multilateral booked a semi-final spot after defeating Essequibo Islands Secondary in a last-ball thriller while Lower Corentyne Secondary won their match against New Amsterdam Secondary to advance to the next round as the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) sponsored by Banks DIH Ltd’s Coco Cola and Rainforest Water along with Digicel continued.
Playing at Wakenaam ground, Essequibo Islands won the toss and took first strike. They rattled up a respectable 183 all out off 30 overs. Mark Lewis was the top scorer with 30 while Besham Moses supported with 28. Bowling for Anna Regina Multilateral, Randy Rooplall took 3/34.
Anna Regina Multilateral in their reply, managed to keep up with the run rate for most of the innings. However, the chase went right down ‘to the wire’ as Anna Regina Multilateral required five runs to win off the final delivery. The bowler, Poonam Persaud delivered a good ball which Ranesh Persaud stroked and ran two runs, and then ran three overthrows as none of the fielders were backing up.
At Cumberland, Lower Corentyne Secondary won the toss and decided to bowl first. New Amsterdam Secondary was dismissed off the final delivery of the innings for 117. Guyana U-15 batsman Garfield Benjamin, struck 65 with four fours and three huge sixes. He was the only one to offer much resistance to a disciplined bowling attack. Simon Naidoo had excellent figures of 4/19 which included a helmet-trick. Ezikiel Kempadoo supported with 2/19.
In reply, Lower Corentyne Secondary raced to 120/3 in 18 overs as national under 15 batsman Kevlon Anderson continued his impressive form with the bat hitting 69 not out including seven well timed fours. Keith Simpson supported with 23.
Tomorrow, February 18, 2016, Anna Regina Mutlilateral will face Uitvlugt Secondary at Zeeburg ground, Highway/Upper Demerara will clash with East Bank Demerara at DCC and East Coast Demerara will face Mahaica-Mahaicony at Enterprise ground in Combine Elite matches at Farm ground. On Friday, February 19, 2016, Chase Academy will play the winner of the Berbice District.