GCB U-19 Inter-County tournament: Wins for Berbice, Demerara in opening round

-Dindyal, Mohabir, Rampersaud shine

Berbice and Demerara have recorded contrasting wins in the opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Under-19 Inter-County 50-over tournament sponsored by the Government of Guyana (GoG) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS).
Berbice defeated Essequibo by six wickets at GCC Bourda after Jonathan Rampersaud claimed 5-28 in 9.1 overs. As captain, Rampersaud restricted Essequibo to 97 all out in 28.1 overs; and in reply, Berbice reached 98-4 from 23.4 overs, with Rampertab Ramnauth scoring 41.

Earlier, Essequibo won the toss and opted to bat first. The openers Shaaid Vieira (14) and Rajendra Ramballi (15) compiled 28 runs for the first wicket. Thereafter, wickets fell at regular intervals as off-spinners Salim Khan and Jonathan Rampersaud ran through a fragile Essequibo line-up. Isai Thorne also bowled some heat rocks in his spell of 1-21 from five overs, while Khan supported with 3-32 in his six overs. In his 5-28, Rampersaud bowled two maidens.
Berbice openers began the chase in brisk fashion. Hemendra Gurdyal and Rampertab Ramnauth produced 49 runs in 7.4 overs. Gurdyal made 13, but was removed by Joash Charles, who took 2-25 in six overs. Berbice made the small target look tall as they lost four wickets in pursuit. Shaazif Mohamed had 2-14 in 4.4 overs, and he accounted for Ramnauth (41) and Tomani Caesar (12). However, Zeynul Ramsammy (14 not out) and Jonathan Rampersaud (04) not out saw Berbice over the line.

In the other match, Demerara beat GCB Select XI by 150 runs at Everest. Demerara posted 241 all out in 49 overs, Mavindra Dindyal top-scoring with 83 while Alvin Mohabir scored 56. The national duo added 94 runs for the third wicket, to take Demerara into a strong position. Berbician Matthew Pottoya was the pick of the bowlers with 2-35 from 10 overs.
In reply, GCB Select XI managed only 91 all out in 30.5 overs. Chanderpaul Ramraj made 25 in a poor batting display. Krisna Singh took 3-10 in 10 overs, Rudranauth Kissoon took 3-10 in five overs, and Alvin Mohabir took 3-23 in 6.5 overs to clean up the Select XI.
The tournament resumes on Friday, April 14, 2023, when Demerara will play Berbice at GCC while GCB Select XI will face Essequibo at Everest.
The third and final round will be played on Sunday, April 16 with Demerara versus Essequibo at Everest and Berbice playing the GCB Select XI at Enmore.