GCB Senior Inter-County 4-Day tournament 2023: Imlach’s 62 highlights opening day of Demerara vs Berbice

By Brandon Corlette at Providence

Watched by less than 30 spectators and the full Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Selection Panel, Tevin Imlach stood tall in his 62 as Demerara closed the opening day of the GCB Senior Four-Day Inter-County match against Berbice on 228-9 after 86.2 overs.
This four-day format of the Senior Inter-County returned after nine years; and after a delayed start, play commenced at 10:45h. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, bowled the first ball of the tournament to opener Sachin Singh. He was the first to be dismissed, caught in the slip cordon off the bowling of Romario Shepherd for nine.

Matthew Nandu and Tevin Imlach took Demerara to 39-1 at the lunch interval. Nandu was unbeaten on 13 and Imlach was on seven. Nandu (15) was then looking to score after facing five dots from Permaul. He scooped one to backward square leg when the score was at 50-2 in 22 overs.
The under-pressure Akshaya Persaud came in and played a delightful drive past mid-off, but he fell soon after for six. Persaud cut one straight to point off a short-of-the-length ball bowled by Nial Smith, and Leon Johnson joined Imlach with the score at 61-3, and the duo built a promising partnership.
Johnson was looking compact, but he wasted a good start when he hit a full toss to Junior Sinclair at mid-on. The national skipper made 21, and departed with the score at 92-4 to give Kevin Sinclair his first wicket.

Christopher Barnwell and his Demerara Cricket Club teammate Imlach took the city side to 121-4 at tea, after 52 overs. Imlach, who struggled in the opening rounds, dug deep and showed fight. He reached his half-century with two boundaries, cutting Junior Sinclair to the boundary.
Barnwell thumped a few into the boundary, but he departed for 28 from 71 balls in an innings which had four boundaries. The senior man was drawn forward off a top Junior Sinclair delivery, and was caught at slip with the score at 149-5 after 61 overs. Barnwell and Imlach added 57 runs together.
Ronaldo Ali Mohamed came and, looking uneasy, edged one to Kevlon Anderson at slip, and a sharp reflex catch was taken.
Demerara then slumped to 169-7 in 71.3 overs when Imlach was trapped at the crease for 62 from 182 balls. His innings had nine fours. This first-class batsman Imlach failed yet again to convert his fifty into a century, as he was caught on the crease.
Spinners Richie Looknauth and Ashmead Nedd then took Demerara past 200. Permaul took Shamar Joseph off the attack and came from the bottom end to remove Nedd for 19. Nedd was sharply taken at cover by Kevin Sinclair when the score was at 209-8 in 84.1 overs.
Sankar (13) came and attempted to attack Shepherd. He top-edged a six, but was removed by Permaul when stumps were drawn at 228-9 in 86.2 overs. Permaul was the best bowler with 4-47 in 27.1 overs. Looknauth will resume the day on 19.
The second day of this four-day match will commence at 9:30h.