GCA prevails over DCB’S “Best of the rest” in last over thriller

A large crowd witnessed the conclusion of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB)/Guyana Floodlight Softball Association (GFSCA) Inter Association Under-19 cricket competition which was played on Saturday at the “Home of Legends”, Demerara Cricket Club ground.
The feature fifty-over game was contested by GCA, winner of the DCB Inter Association Under-19 Tournament, and a combined team made up of players from the other four associations that participated. In one of the best-ever youth cricket matches witnessed in recent years, GCA won the game with one wicket and one ball to spare.
This new initiative of the DCB has given the players a final opportunity to make a case for selection in the county team, while the selection panel has been given another opportunity to select the best possible team.
The combined team, having won the toss under a clear blue sky and in hot conditions, took first strike and lost Vikash Wilkinson for 3, caught off a short ball from John Persaud.

Skipper Sachin Balgobin joined the other opener, Deonarine Dindyal, and they both started slowly, but blossomed, with Balgobin looking attractive until he went for 23 off Jonathan Van Lange.
The combined team quickly lost Nicholas Shieopersad and Nityanand Mathura, while Dindyal was scoring freely at the other end. He eventually went for a well-played 53 off leg spinner Riyad Latiff.
At 104 for 5 in 26 overs, the combined team looked in a spot of bother. However, the hard-hitting Anthon Lim and touch player Shiloh Adams put on a rapid partnership of 150, characterized by good running between the wicket, classy batting, and power hitting. Lim went for 75 and Adams went for 79 in quick succession.

Thereafter, the innings lost its way and was closed at 296 for 8 off the allotted 50 overs. Riyad Latiff was the outstanding bowler with 4 for 53 off 9 overs.
In reply, GCA had a steady start with Romeo Deonarain and Ryan Latiff, with Deonarain being the initial aggressor, scoring a rapid 57 before he was caught and bowled by Mathura with the score on 136 off 22 overs.
Latiff, in the meantime, was growing in confidence, and went for a well-constructed innings of 95 with 6 fours and 9 sixes. GCA then lost Mavendra Dindyal and skipper Alvin Mohabir in quick succession to leave the game in the balance. Jonathan Van
Van Lange and Zachary Jodha came to the crease, and with sensible batting mixed with aggression, tilted the balance in favour of their team, before Van Lange went for 48.
Jodha rallied with the tail before he went for 32, which swung the game slightly in favour of the opposition. With 3 runs required off 2 balls and the tension increasing, a Krsna Singh delivery edged by John Persaud raced to the boundary for four, and celebrations erupted. Singh finished with 4 for 38 and Mathura with 2 for 48.
At the presentation ceremony that followed, DCB Vice President Puneet Jaigopaul spoke on behalf of the board, and GFSCA President Ramchand Ragbeer on behalf of the sponsors. For the feature game, Ryan Latiff was adjudged man of the match and best batsman. Krsna Singh was adjudged best bowler and Alvin Mohabir was adjudged best catcher.
GCA was adjudged winner of the competition, and West Demerara was adjudged the runner-up. Romeo Deonarain was adjudged player of the tournament and batsman with the most runs. Mavendra Dindial was adjudged highest individual scorer. Wavell Allen was adjudged bowler with the best figures in an innings. Krsna Singh was adjudged the bowler with the most wickets, Alvin Mohabir had the most catches, and the wicketkeeper with the most dismissals was Shiloh Adams.
The DCB took the opportunity to thank sponsors: Trophy Stall, Ramchand’s Auto Spares, Ariel Enterprise, Rohan Auto Spares, Steve’s Jewelry, Petama Enterprise, Motor Trend, Cricket Equipment Guyana, General Marine, Terry Mathura of TDMJ Inc, Raj Mathura and Pandit Anand Persaud, who are all members of the GFSCA family.