Demerara take honours on opening day against Essequibo

In a one-sided contest between Demerara and Essequibo, the home team, Demerara won the toss and elected to field first.
The Essequibo boys were bowled out for 75 with off-spinner Joel Spooner doing the damage for Demerara with 5-10. Demerara are in firm position, enjoying a healthy lead of 87; ending the day on 162-5, riding on Alphius Bookie’s 52.
Earlier in the day, Essequibo lost opener Kevin Christian for a duck in the first over bowled by the lively Qumar Torrington. Ameer Singh (01) came and went cheaply when he was out off the bowling of Sachin Singh, with the score on 10-2.
The lads from Demerara kept chipping away with wickets; at 27-3, the Essequibians were in all sorts of trouble, losing Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon for one. Orlando Jailall scored a solid 27, which was the eventual top score for Essequibo. At lunch, they were 55-4; they crumbled to 75 all out, losing six wickets for 20 runs. Joel Spooner was the chief architect with 5-10 in 4.4 overs, and was twice on a hat-trick.
In Demerara’s reply, they had a good start with openers Robin Williams and Adrian Hinds adding 38 runs together. Hinds fell for 13 while Windies U-19 selectee, Sachin Singh scored 13. Robin Williams scored a composed 42, but it was the right-handed Bookie playing the innings of the day at Bourda, scoring 52, decorated with four boundaries and one six. Amit Persaud has 2-45 for Essequibo thus far; day two will commence from 10:00h at Bourda. (Brandon Corlette)