GCB Senior Inter-County four-day tournament 2023: Essequibo thrash Berbice inside two days

By Brandon Corlette at Enmore

Table-leaders Essequibo have completed an eight-wicket victory against Berbice inside two days at Enmore, in round two of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) Senior Inter-County four-day tournament.
Both teams were without some key players, who are preparing for national duties, but the young and upcoming players stood out. Berbice failed both times with the bat, scoring 94 all out and 105 all out across both innings. Left-arm spinners Ricardo Adams and Garfield Phillips did most of the damage for Essequibo, while Nigel Deodat had 6-49 on Senior Inter-County debut for Berbice.
The men from the Cinderella County completed the win before tea on day two, ending victorious on 25-2 in 9.4 overs, after posting 175 in their first innings and being equipped with a lead of 81 runs.
Essequibo resumed the second day on 156-9 in 48.4 overs. Wazim Mohammed slammed Nigel Deodat for a six over long-on off the second ball of the day, to get the morning going. The final wicket eventually fell at 175 after 53.2 overs.
Deodat, who had five wickets on day one, was the Berbice team’s chief wicket-taker, ending with 6-49 in 16.2 overs. Mohammed was unbeaten on 22 as Essequibo had a healthy lead.

In their reply, Berbice wickets fell like dominoes, as the inexperienced top-order was exposed by Neiland Cadogan and Ricardo Adams. Alex Algoo was the first to be dismissed, bowled by Cadogan for five. Left-hander Javed Karim continued his poor form at the top, and was dismissed for two, bowled all ends up by Adams. In this inter-county tournament, Karim has recorded scores of 03, 00, 00, and now 02 in this innings.
The brisk Cadogan then trapped Garfield Benjamin at the crease for a 10-ball duck. Shamal Angel (11) then played with hard hands and was caught at the wicket off Adams, as Berbice sank further.
Jason Sinclair (09) was unlucky to be run out at the non-striker’s end, when Seon Hetmyer drove one back to the stumps and Sampson effected the run out. The senior Hetmyer, stand-in captain owing to an injury sustained by Junior Sinclair, took Berbice to lunch at 45-5 after 21 overs. Nigel Deodat was also looking promising before lunch. Phillips, another left-arm spinner, came into the attack, but Deodat and Hetmyer added a counter-attacking 50-run partnership.
Seon Hetmyer, who used his feet brilliantly throughout his innings, eventually lost his wicket by that route, when he was bowled by Phillips for 28. Deodat continued a fine debut as he displayed the art of sweeping. The little man also timed the ball well to ensure Essequibo bat again, but his innings of 30 from 41 balls ended when he was removed by Phillips.
Berbice closed out their innings on 105-9 with Junior Sinclair being injured and unable to bat. Phillips ended with 4-14, while Adams and Cadogan each had two wickets.