GCB Senior Inter-County 4-Day tournament 2023: Rain dominates opening day of Essequibo vs Select XI clash

Constant rainfall highlighted the opening day of the Essequibo vs Select XI contest at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence in the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) Senior Four-Day Inter-County tournament.
Essequibo won the toss after a 45-minute delayed start, and had opted to bat first, but rain ended the day with the boys from the Cinderella County on 57-3 after 20.2 overs.
Former Guyana Under-19 fast-bowler Sylus Tyndall, a Berbician playing for the Select XI, got the ball to swing away from the right-handers. He claimed the first wicket when he trapped the left-handed Avinash Persaud at the crease for a duck, without a run on the board.
Axed Guyana Harpy Eagles seamer Demetri Cameron failed to control the swing on offer early, and ended up spraying down the leg-side.
With the weather being a threat, the Select XI skipper introduced medium pacer Carlos La Rose into the attack, and he made an immediate impact, removing Kevon Boodie for 17 by uprooting the right-hander’s stumps when the score was at 32-2 in 11 overs.
Senior batsman Kemol Savory then partnered Ronaldo Renne, and the duo kept the Select XI bowlers at bay briefly.
The heavens opened and early lunch was taken, but upon resumption, Cameron finally got it right. Cameron, who made his first-class debut last year in Trinidad before now finding himself out of the team, bowled a good length delivery to remove Renne, caught at the wicket by Nathan Persaud.
Renne had looked promising in scoring 22, which included five fours. After that wicket, the rain began to fall and that was all she wrote.
At stumps, Savory was unbeaten on 16 and Keemo Paul was yet to score. The senior duo will resume the second day at Providence. For the Select XI, Tyndall was the pick of the bowlers with 1-23 in eight overs, while Cameron had 1-11 in 6.3 overs. La Rose had 1-14 in his four-over spell.
These Select XI bowlers will be aiming to make inroads on day two, while Savory and Paul will be aiming to bat Essequibo to a strong position. (Brandon Corlette)