Essequibo live the dream with 3-Day title win

̶  Captain Adams named tournament MVP

By Clifton Ross

After a long wait for their time in the limelight, a fired up Essequibo team, led by their MVP skipper Anthony Adams, proudly lifted the 2017 GCB/ Jaguars 3-Day League title on Sunday, following seven rounds of sheer dominance in this year’s competition.
After seven weekends of highly competitive action across venues in Guyana, one team, once billed the underdog of inter-county cricket, are now at the pinnacle of their game, having sat in the top position for nearly more than half of the competition.
Thanks mainly to their star performers: all-rounders Keemo Paul, Ricardo Adams wicket-keeper/batsman Kemol Savory and the recipient of the Most Valuable Player award, Captain Adams, Essequibo ended with a total of 88 points, 9.2 more than runners-up, Upper Corentyne.
Essequibo began their quest for glory in the first round when they defeated previous league champions Lower Corentyne. Following that win, Essequibo were able to maintain their lead over the rest of teams through outright victories over West Berbice, Georgetown and Upper Corentyne, while gaining additional points from drawn encounters against Upper Demerara/ East Bank, East Coast Demerara and West Demerara.
Recipient of the coveted MVP tournament award, Adams, who ended with 52 wickets compliments of his wily left-arm spin, was also a force with the bat, scoring some 260 runs, with a century under his belt and a few fifties to cap off an exceptional domestic season.
The Essequibo captain told Guyana Times Sport following the presentation ceremony that he was so happy and proud of not only his personal achievements, but that of his teammates. Adams said that while the feeling was indescribable, he has, all his life, been playing cricket to win, and he believes this victory will help to build a case for his national selection ahead of the Regional 4-Day season.

Apart from Adams, other notable performers were: left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who was named highest wicket-taker, with 61 scalps. He was awarded a trophy along with $40,000 cash incentive for his efforts.
Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) franchise player and West Demerara skipper Akshaya Persaud, who ended as the leading-run scorer, with 523 runs including two centuries. He too received a trophy and $20, 000, while the same was given to Essequibo glove-man, Kemol Savory, who was adjudged best wicket-keeper.
East Bank Captain Ronaldo Ali Mohamed was declared the Most Promising Player of the league, racking up 447 runs with 13 wickets. For their efforts throughout the league, runners-up Upper Corentyne, who finished with 78.7 points, received a big trophy and $250,000 after leapfrogging Lower Corentyne to claim their spot, leaving former champs Lower Corentyne to be relegated to third position with 69.7 points.
Speaking at the post match ceremony, GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie congratulated all the franchises for making this year’s league better than last year’s edition. “It is hoped that we can continue to improve at all levels to make this the primary first class competition in the longer version of the game”, said Sanasie.
He added that sponsors have already begun to signal their interest for the upcoming 50 Overs and T20 formats, andd he hopes to secure full sponsorship for the third edition, as the board has injected in excess of G$20 million on this tournament alone.