West Demerara Combine defeated East Bank Demerara Combine despite a fine all round performance by Sagar Hathiramani as the Combine Elite phase of 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 continues.

Playing at Zeeburg ground, West Demerara Combine took first strike and rattled up 273-9 off 40 overs. Ganesh Jitlall struck a boundary laden even 50 which included four fours and four sixes. He received good support from Ajita Persaud who made 45 which was laced with five sweetly timed fours. Bowling for East Bank Demerara Combine, Sagar Hathiramani had impressive figures of 4/36 off eight overs.

In reply, East Bank Demerara was restricted to 196/7 in 40 overs as Hathiramani returned with the bat to top-score with 69. His knock was decorated with five fours and two maximums. Orlando Ghisiawan also contributed 45, hitting three fours and a six while Antonio Anthony supported with 35. Bowling for West Demerara Combine, Reaz Khan took 3/40.

An Upper Demerara-West Demerara Combine team will now be selected to play an Essequibo combine team in the Combine second semi-final to be held tomorrow at the Imam Bacchus ground in Essequibo. The winner of that game would then earn the right to play the winner of the first semi-final between Georgetown Combine and Berbice Combine which is being played today at Albion Community Centre ground.