GCB Senior Intercounty Super50: Sampson’s 4 outshines Thorne’s 4 as Essequibo bag massive win
A massive 172-run victory was on the cards for the Essequibo team on Sunday, as they thrashed the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Select XI in its Senior Men’s Intercounty Super50 tournament.
After a solid batting performance from the Essequibians, Quentin Sampson wreaked havoc with the ball in hand to destabilise the Select XI’s chase.
Playing at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda, in pristine conditions on Sunday, the Select XI won the toss and chose to field first.
Malcolm Hubbard receives his Man-of-the-Match award
Essequibo got off to a less-than-perfect start as Kevin Boodie’s 20 from 12 balls was the only two-digit score in the top order. Kemol Savory stabilised the innings after contributing 29 runs from 67 balls. However, after Savory’s repair job, it was Malcolm Hubbard who did the heavy lifting, hitting 76 from 73 deliveries, inclusive of six sixes and three fours. Ricardo Adams fell just shy of his half-century, getting to 48 off 47 balls, before falling victim to Christopher Barnwell’s bowling. Essequibo Captain Anthony Adams kept the runs flowing, adding 39 from 47 deliveries to steer his team to a commendable total of 273-9 in 50 overs.
Under-19 talent Isai Thorne was undeniably the shining star on display for the Select XI, picking up four wickets in his spell of 4-52 from 10. Select XI Captain Junior Sinclair was just as good with returns of 4-40 from 10.
Later on, a hat-trick of ducks in the middle order, effected by Quentin Sampson devastated the Select XI’s chase. With Raymon Perez and Sachin Singh opening, the latter went early for five off 10 balls, compliments of Sampson’s bowling. The next man in, Shemar Yearwood, only lasted three balls before falling prey to Sampson. Thereafter, Joshua Persaud and Barnwell were both added to Sampson’s list after facing just one and two deliveries respectively. Captain Sinclair hardly troubled the score with five from four balls, leaving Perez at the next end to fend for himself and team.
Quentin Sampson effected a hat-trick of ducks
After Perez’s 25 from 41 balls, Suresh Dhanai’s 23 from 51 balls was the next best score for the Select XI. Aside, from Jonathan and Aryan Persaud’s 13 from 36 and 31 balls respectively, every other batter on the team failed to reach double digits.
Sampson eventually finished with figures of 4-18 from five overs, while both Captain Adams (2- 25 from 10) and Garfield Philips (2-20 from 1.2) picked up two wickets to bowl out the Select XI for a measly 101 runs in 32.2 overs.
With Round 1 now complete, Berbice and Essequibo currently lead proceedings on account of the victories over the weekend. Round 2 of the Senior Intercounty tournament will bowl off on Tuesday, October 3 with a clash between defending champions Berbice and the GCB Select XI at Enmore Ground from 09:00h.
On the same day, at the GCC Ground, Demerara and Essequibo will face off, also from 09:00h.
