Essequibo produced a sterling performance with bat and ball to defeat defending champions Berbice by 63 runs in the opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) sponsored Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Under-19 three-day cricket tournament yesterday at the Enterprise Busta Sports Club.
Essequibo who enforced the follow-on, bundled out Berbice for 90 in their second innings, as off-spinner Looknauth Chinkoo, wreaked havoc, bagging 5-35, to finish with match haul of 8-74.
Joel Seetram 18 and Ritesh Omroa 11 were the only Berbice batsmen into double figures in their second innings.
Resuming on 71-5, needing79 runs to avoid the follow-on, Berbice had the worst of starts. Overnight batsman Joshua Harrichand was removed by Chinkoo for 33 inside the third over of the day.
All-rounder Keemo Paul, who bowled smartly, gave ample support to Chinkoo as he picked up 4-13 from 11.3 overs.
The boys from the Cinderalla County enforced the follow-on as Berbice had a deficit of 153,
Keemo Paul collects his Man-of-the-Match trophy from Chandranie Karran, Marketing Representative of Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company.Off-spinner Looknauth Chinkoo
But there there no turn around in the batting for Berbice as by lunch they were 47-5.
The 17-year-old Chinkoo accounted for the wickets of Harrichand (3), Matthew Hardial (5) and Brandon Prashad (0).
Pacer Reaz Khan, who started Berbice’s misery when he had Adrian Sukwah (6) caught by Paul in the slips after the ball rebounded from wicket-keeper Nathan Persaud. Fellow opener Omroa was among the five wickets to fell during that period.
After the interval, Berbice lost their last five wickets in another disastrous period, with Chinkoo, Akenie Adams and Paul sharing the final five wickets.
Adams ended with figures of 2-12, while Paul and Khan were the other successful second innings bowlers.
Meanwhile, in the other first round game; Demerara defeated the Select Under-17 team by seven wickets. (Scores in the match: Select Under-17 90 and 160; Demerara 190 and 62-3).
The second round is scheduled to commence on Sunday with Demerara playing Berbice at Everest and Essequibo oppose the Select Under-17 at DCC.
