Demerara, Select XI start U19 campaigns with wins

The 2026 edition of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Male Under-19 Inter-County 50-over Championships bowled off on Sunday with a pair of contrasting matches that set the tone for what promises to be an exciting youth tournament.
At the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court, Essequibo, Team Demerara turned in a commanding all-round performance to defeat hosts Essequibo by 99 runs in their opening-round encounter.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Demerara posted a competitive 242 for 6 from their allotted 50 overs. The foundation was laid by Khush Seegobin, who struck 43 off 54 balls, and Parmeshwar Ram, who supported with 40 from 48 deliveries. Wicketkeeper-batsman Shamar Apple added further impetus with a fluent 46 off 61 balls, inclusive of four fours and a six.

Jonathan Mentore then anchored the latter stages of the innings with an unbeaten 48 from 89 balls, ensuring Demerara batted through the full quota of overs. Extras also played a part, contributing 26 runs to the total.
Essequibo skipper Nicholas Lovell was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 40 from his 10 overs, while Ravesh Singh supported with 2 for 33.
In reply, Essequibo s chase never fully recovered from a disastrous start. They slumped to 3 for 4 inside the first three overs as Vijai Kalpu and Shane Prince ripped through the top order. Justin Dowlin fought a lone battle, stroking a defiant 78 not out off 80 balls, decorated with eight fours and a six.
However, wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Ram returned to haunt Essequibo with the ball, claiming 4 for 18 from 7.5 overs in a decisive spell of left-arm spin. He was well supported by Prince (2 for 33) and Kalpu (2 for 26) as Essequibo were bundled out for 143 in 30.5 overs.

Meanwhile, at the Police Sports Club Ground, the GCB Select XI edged Berbice Under-19s by 12 runs in a low-scoring affair.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Select XI were dismissed for 103 in 23.1 overs. Yannick Newton top-scored with a brisk 42 off 30 balls, including six fours and a six, but lacked sustained support as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Micah Amsterdam (4 for 26) and Richard Ramdeholl (5 for 6) were outstanding with the ball for Berbice, combining to claim nine of the 10 wickets.
Berbice, in response, were bowled out for 91 in 28.2 overs. Antonio DePaul made 18 while Romario Ramdeholl chipped in with 22, but disciplined bowling kept the scoring in check. Joshua Budram and Gabran Yacoob shared key wickets to ensure the Select XI held their nerve to secure the narrow victory.
With two matches decided and early points on the board, the championship is already showcasing the depth of emerging talent across the counties. As the competition continues, teams will be eager to build momentum in pursuit of the coveted Under-19 inter-county title.