Essequibo and defending champion, Demerara, continued where they left off from the first round of the GCB/HIH Under-19 3-Day Inter-County 2016. They are in control after the first day of the second round of the Competition today.
Berbice who lost their way against Essequibo in round one, fell for 198 in their first innings against Demerara at the Everest Cricket Club ground. Demerara placed tremendous pressure on Berbice from the onset, as the Berbician batsman found their task challenging. The Berbician who experienced a shaky start, seemed a bit unready for the occasion, as most of their batsmen fought in vain to effectively adjust to the Demerara bowling.
However, it was Joel Seitaram who demonstrated good discipline and character in an unbeaten 76 off 96 balls that guided Berbice to 198 made off 58 overs, and his team to an aggregate of what appeared at the time as a reasonable first innings score.
Earlier, openers Adrian Sukwah and Sasenarine Sookhoo added 26 for the first wicket before medium pacer Ronaldo Alimohamed made the first breakthrough when he removed Sukwah for two. Soon after Sookhoo retired hurt on 22, leaving Berbice 33/1 in a shortened first session where only nine overs were possible.
The post lunch session saw Berbice losing wickets at regular intervals, and were at one stage 66/5 before there was a mini recovery led by Joel Seitaram that enable Berbice to reach their final first innings score.
Bowling for Demerara, Keshram Seyhodan extracted some turn and bounce, capturing 5/46, while medium pacer Sherfane Rutherford supported well with 2/46.
Demerara then needed 14 overs to bat out the day’s play, and approached their task professionally to be 38 without lost at the close. Ronaldo Renee and Raymond Perez are unbeaten on 11 and 18 respectively.
Meanwhile, at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Essequibo ended the select Under-17s innings at 244 as their star bowler, Akinie Adams, penetrated the Select U-17s to end with 6/74. Looknauth Chinkoo chipped in with 2 wickets. In reply, Essequibo got off to a flying start, to reach 72 without lost at the close. Mark Williams was unbeaten on 54 and Nathan Persaud was 14 not out.
Play continues tomorrow, starting at 9:30 hrs at both venues.
(Sean Devers photo)