GCB Senior Inter-county: Paul, Beaton, and Savory lead Essequibo into final

– questionable umpiring highlights thrilling match

By Brandon Corlette at Providence

Led by four-wicket hauls from Keemo Paul and Player of the Match Ronsford Beaton, and a half-century from Kemol Savory, Essequibo defeated a strong Demerara team by 10 runs at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
After a match that was filled with drama and hard-fought cricket , Essequibo’s spirited win now sets up a clash against the defending champions Berbice in Tuesday’s final of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior inter-county tournament, which is scheduled for a 14:00h start at Providence.

In the match, Essequibo, batting first, posted 156 all out, with Savory scoring 66, while Demerara managed 146 all out in 31.1 overs, with Akshaya Persaud scoring 36. Beaton claimed 4-38 while the spirited Paul had 4-50.
In the chase of 157, Demerara had lost Tagenarine Chanderpaul for a duck when he was trapped leg-before by the brisk Beaton. The national pacer, who has also played international cricket, continued to make the batsmen uncomfortable.

While Kevon Boodie put down a sitter, and despite Joshua Persaud driving Beaton down the ground, Beaton got the last laugh when he produced a short ball and removed Persaud caught at fine-leg for 13, with the scoreline reading 22-2.
A 50-run partnership for the third wicket between Leon Johnson and Tevin Imlach revived the chase. Imlach departed for a promising 28, in what looked a harsh call, and, he was Paul’s first victim at 73-2. Christopher Barnwell (03) then came and went cheaply, clean-bowled by left-arm spinner Garfield Phillips.

The classy Johnson, who played some glorious shots in his 45-ball 29, an innings that was decorated with four boundaries and one six, fell to a short ball from Beaton at 88-5. Essequibo continued to fight, and wickets kept tumbling, despite Sherfane Rutherford threatening with his 18, an innings that had two fours and one six.
It was the man from Cornelia Ida, Akshaya Persaud, who began his innings with sweetly-timed boundaries off the dangerous Beaton. The left-handed Persaud left the Essequibo supporters in awe with his stroke-play, in his innings of 36 from 30 balls that had six fours. He was, however, adjudged leg-before, to a ball that struck him fairly high.
His wicket had the men from the Cinderella County jumping for joy, and Ricardo Adams dismissed Sankar as Demerara folded for 146 all out in 31.1 overs. Beaton claimed 4-38 in eight overs while Paul had 4-50. Paul, who is struggling with an ankle injury, showed determination and grit, taking short steps and bowling at a reduced pace.

Earlier, Essequibo won the toss and opted to bat first in sunny conditions. Barnwell opened the bowling from the top end executed a perfect yorker, to shatter the stumps of Eknauth Persaud at 8-1.
It quickly became 34-3 when Boodie played a poor shot, slashing one to short cover and the next ball, Paul picked up his first ball and was caught at deep backward square.

Ronaldo Ali Mohammed produced that breakthrough over, to put Essequibo on top. Ricardo Adams then partnered Savory and the duo attempted to rebuild the innings, but that ploy failed, when Ricardo was caught for 12 off Ali Mohammed at 59-4 in 17.4 overs. Three runs later, the skipper. Antony Adams was trapped leg-before by the probing Barnwell for a duck.
The young Wazim Mohamed then came in and played fearlessly; he was the perfect foil for Savory. Mohamed made a flashy 22 from 30 balls, an innings that included two fours and the innings’ only six. The lower middle order failed to complement Savory, who reached his half-century from 89 balls.
Promising leg-spinner Steven Sankar, who ended with 3-43 in his 10 overs, wrapped up the innings with Richie Looknauth, who had 2-25 in 7.2 overs. Savory, who scored a century in the first round against the GCB President’s XI, was the final man dismissed for 66 from 119 balls, an innings that included one four. He batted for 191 minutes.
Ali Mohammed claimed 3-28 in his seven overs, while Barnwell had 2-23 in a collective bowling effort that restricted Essequibo to 156 all out in 41.2 overs.