GCB Senior Intercounty Super50 tourney: Sinclair shines in low- scoring thriller on opening day
Berbice defended a low total to pick up their first win of the tournament
Defending champions Berbice held their nerve to secure a 27-run win in the first game of the Senior Intercounty Super50 tournament, which bowled off on Saturday at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground on the West Bank of Berbice.
While batting on both sides was dismal, Kevin Sinclair conjured a magical arm to rout challengers Demerara in the chase. Defending a meagre target of 133, which Demerara was asked to surpass in 50 overs, Sinclair first showed his intent by rattling the stumps of Tagenarine Chanderpaul in the second over.
Kevin Sinclair receives his man of the match accolade from Match Referee Moses Rampal
And whereas Chanderpaul contributed a single run to the score from the 8 balls he faced, Mavindra Dindyal was soon out LBW off Shemar Joseph’s bowling, and Demerara Captain Tevin Imlach hasted to join him in the stands after contributing 4 runs from 2 balls before being run out.
At 3-30, the Demerara team was visibly in trouble, and Sinclair harvested four other wickets on the trot to put the Berbician team within reach of a stunning victory.
Richie Looknauth was the only Demerarian to offer resistance to the home team’s bowling, hitting 36 runs from 44 balls, including 7 fours. However, with wickets falling all around him, Looknauth eventually became another Sinclair victim in the 24th over.
Sinclair ended the game with figures of 7-15 from 9.5 overs, thereby grabbing the ‘man of the match’ accolade. He was ably assisted by Shemar Joseph with 1-18 from 3 overs, and by captain Veerasammy Permaul with 2-12 from 2 overs.
Earlier in the game, Berbice had batted themselves into hot water, they also finding it difficult to manoeuvre on the pitch. Rampertab Ramnauth fell in the very first over for a duck, after facing only 2 balls. Kevlon Anderson spent only enough time at the crease to produce 7 runs from 20 balls, while Sinclair, who tried his hand at the opening partnership spot, fell to Sherfane Rutherford’s bowling for 19 runs off 22 balls.
Romario Shepherd was the standout Berbician batsman, hitting 26 runs from 42 balls, including 4 fours, while Sinclair’s 19 was the next best score.
Brief innings of 18, 15 and 10 from Seon Hetmyer, Seon Glasgow and Clinton Pestano kept Berbice going, but not fast enough, as they were bowled out for 132 inside 32.4 overs.
Steven Sankar was the pick of the bowlers for Demerara, takings 3-22 from 7.4 overs, consisting of one maiden over. Rutherford picked up two wickets for 18 runs from 5 overs, while Qumar Torrington had another 2 scalps for 22 runs in 4 overs.
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Intercounty Super50 tournament continues today in Georgetown, where Essequibo will battle the GCB Select XI at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground at Bourda. First ball is expected to be bowled at 9:00hrs.
