Budhram, Latif shine as DCB U19 tournament delivers dominant performances

The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Under-19 competition continued on Sunday with two compelling encounters that showcased emerging talent and dominant individual performances across the county.

East Bank secure first win
At the weekend fixture between the East Bank Cricket Association and the Upper Demerara Cricket Association, Upper Demerara won the toss and opted to take first strike. However, their innings never gained momentum as East Bank’s disciplined bowling attack restricted them to just 72 all out in 18.4 overs.
Only Errol Alder and Tyric Henry offered resistance with 16 runs apiece, as the rest of the batting line-up struggled to build meaningful partnerships. Skipper Joshua Budhram led from the front with a superb spell of 4 for 12, while Ravindra Singh provided excellent support with three wickets to dismantle the opposition.
In reply, East Bank approached the chase cautiously but confidently. Opening batter Dilshan Latchman anchored the innings with an unbeaten 29 from 55 deliveries, ensuring there were no late hiccups. Shane Shivbarran chipped in with 15 as East Bank reached 78 for 3 in 18.1 overs to secure their first victory of the tournament.

GCA post massive total, Latif spins web
Meanwhile, at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Ground, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) U19 side delivered a commanding performance against the East Coast Cricket Board U19.
After winning the toss, Georgetown elected to bat and made full use of the 50 overs, piling up an imposing 300 for 5. Khush Seegobin led the charge with a fluent 80 off 76 balls, while Johnathan Mentore anchored the innings with a well-compiled 78 from 96 deliveries. Shamar Apple added impetus in the latter stages, striking 51 from just 41 balls to push the total to a formidable mark. Arun Gainda was the pick of the bowlers for East Coast with figures of 2 for 38.
Facing a daunting target, East Coast struggled to keep pace with the required rate and were eventually bowled out for 119 in 30.4 overs. Yannick Newton provided some entertainment with a brisk 45 from 36 balls, and Junia Dindyal added 19, but the rest of the batting order faltered under sustained pressure.
Leg spinner Reyaz Latif delivered a match-winning performance, ripping through the line-up with exceptional figures of 7 for 21 to seal a comprehensive victory for Georgetown.
With dominant bowling displays and commanding batting performances, Sunday’s action further highlighted the depth of young cricketing talent in the Demerara region as the Under-19 tournament continues to gather momentum.