GCB Senior Inter-County tournament: Johnson scores century, wins for Demerara and Berbice

Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette

Powerhouse teams Berbice and Demerara have recorded wins in their respective matches in the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) Senior Inter-County 50-overs tournament.
Demerara thrashed GCB President’s XI by 160 runs at Everest, while Berbice defeated Essequibo by 26 runs via the DLS when bad light stopped play at Bourda.

National captain Leon Johnson scored a brilliant 153 to lead his side, and was supported by the experienced Christopher Barnwell and the solid Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who each scored half-centuries of their own.
Anthony Bramble continued his fine form, scoring 62, while Romario Shepherd had a good all-round game, claiming four wickets and scoring an unbeaten 30 for Berbice.

Bramble, Shepherd lead Berbice to victory
In the chase, Berbice got off to a solid start. Antony Bramble, who was dropped early, then began his six-hitting, striking Antony Adams into the members’ pavilion. He struck Ricardo Adams for three consecutive fours, all of which went straight down the ground.

Keemo Paul left the bowling crease struggling with an injury after bowling eight balls, and the Essequibo spinners had to do the bulk of the bowling. Rampertab Ramnauth gave away his wicket when he was caught for 12 off the steady Antony Adams with the scora at 69-1. Bramble, who scored a first-round century, ended his innings of 62 from 53 balls when he was bowled by Garfield Phillips. He struck seven fours and three sixes, and departed with the score on 79-1 in the 15th over.
Phillips continued to probe away, and he got the prize scalp of Shimron Hetmyer, who made nine from 15 balls. Hetmyer, who was caught behind on the second attempt by Kemol Savory, departed with the score at 89-3 in 16.3 overs, and that wicket evoked lusty cheers from the Essequibo fans.

Jonathan Foo settled the nerves and was partnered by an explosive Shepherd. The duo took Berbice to 144-4 in 26 overs as the dust settled at Bourda. The umpires had a long discussion and bad light had stopped play. Shepherd was unbeaten on 30 from 19 balls, while Foo was 16 not out.
Shepherd earned the player of the match award for his four wickets and 30 runs scored, inclusive of three sixes and two fours.
Earlier, Essequibo won the toss and opted to bat first. The Berbice seamers Nial Smith and Romario Shepherd made early inroads. Kevon Boodie, who missed a century in the opening round, edged one behind off Smith for one. Shepherd, bowling from the southern end, then removed Kevin Christian, who was caught in the slips for two. Kemol Savory, who scored a century in the first round against GCB President’s XI, looked in trouble against the quality work of Smith and Shepherd.

The left-handed wicketkeeper/ batsman was dropped at first slip by Jonathan Foo, but he was caught at third-man by Gudakesh Motie off Shepherd. Savroy, who scored one, was attempting to go over the off-side, but the ball got the outer edge of the bat.
A returning Keemo Paul, who missed the first round, made a return to batting at number four, but looked out of sorts early in his innings, struggling with his timing. He then watched the departure of Ricardo Adams, who was trapped leg-before by the probing Shepherd. At 30-4 from eight overs, Berbice were large and in charge. The rain then came at Bourda, but after the delay, the match resumed.
Paul was joined by Eknauth Persaud, and the duo added 55 runs for the fifth wicket. Persaud made a 53-ball 18 but he was trapped leg-before by Veerasammy Permaul. Paul was then caught for 46 from 82 balls, after occupying the crease for 11 minutes. He struck one six and three fours.
At 106-5 from 27.3 overs, Berbice had Essequibo on the backfoot. Quintin Sampson had other plans, as he came and played fearless cricket. He struck boundaries off some good bowling from Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Permaul, Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie. Sampson added 96 runs for the seventh wicket with his skipper Antony Adams, who consolidated with his 30 from 60 balls.
Sampson, who hits a long ball, ended a brave knock of 84 from 61 balls. He spent 89 minutes at the crease and struck eight mighty sixes and two fours. He was removed by Shepherd, who ended as the pick of Berbice bowlers with 4-37 in 10 overs, inclusive of two maidens.
Kevin Sinclair had 3-35 in his five overs, while Permaul ended with 2-36 from 10 overs. Guyana Amazon Warriors emerging talent Junior Sinclair did not get an opportunity with the ball for a second match at Bourda.
Essequibo ended on 226 all out when Kevin Sinclair got revenge in the 49th over.

Johnson shows class for Demerara
Demerara had won the toss and opted to bat first. Chandrapaul Hemraj was removed for two, bowled by the promising Shamar Joseph at 9-1 in 4.2 overs. Tevin Imlach was trapped leg-before by Suresh Dhanai at 32-2 in 13 overs. Captain Johnson and vice-captain Tagenarine Chanderpaul then joined forces, and the duo added 133 runs for the third wicket.

The left-handed duo took advantage of the inexperienced bowling and the ordinary fielding. Johnson, who made 51 in the first round against Berbice, continued his fine form. Despite not playing cricket since June 2022 at the Regional Four-Day, he showed his class, outscoring Chanderpaul. Chanderpaul, who failed to convert his half-century, was bowled for 53 from 82 balls, an innings that had five fours. Johnson surpassed his century in 86 balls, and continued to stroke the ball to perfection at Everest as his family watched in delight.
Johnson and Barnwell added 121 runs for the fourth wicket. Barnwell struck five sixes and three fours in his 44-ball 63. The National captain, Johnson, scored 153, struck 14 fours and slammed eight sixes in 117 balls, batting for 130 minutes.
Sherfane Rutherford, who landed in Guyana on Tuesday, returned to Demerara colours and slammed big sixes into the seawalls in his unbeaten 26 from 11 balls, an innings that had three sixes and one four. Dhanai, who was hit all over the park, executed some yorkers to perfection and ended with 3-87 in ten overs.
Trevon Griffith had 1-34 in six overs, while Joseph had 1-4 in four overs. He had a collision and was taken to the hospital for a scan.
In reply, President’s XI lost wickets at regular intervals, despite the top knock from Trevon Griffith, who made 63. Steven Sankar’s 4-44 and Ashmead Nedd’s 2-22 wrapped up the President’s XI innings on 156 all out.
The tournament will continue on Friday October 14 with Berbice taking on GCB President’s XI at Bourda, and Demerara playing Essequibo at Enmore. Weather permitting, both matches will bowl off at 9:00h.