Thaddeus Lovell scored an unbeaten 67 for Essequibo
Half-centuries from Thaddeus Lovell, Shaahid Vieira and Myhiem Khan led Essequibo to a five-wicket win against the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) Select XI in round one of the GCB U-19 inter-county three-day tournament.
The match was played at GCC Bourda, and Essequibo resumed the third day on 70-1, with Khan unbeaten on 46 and Vieira on 19. Essequibo ended on the winning side: on 233-5 in 80.2 overs. In Essequibo’s chase, they lost Harold De Matos for four, but Khan and Vieira added 85 runs for the second wicket.
Khan was dismissed on the final day when he was caught off the bowling of off-spinner Matthew Pottaya. Khan’s even 50 came off 75 balls, and included seven fours. Rajendra Ramballi fell for three, with Essequibo being reduced to 94-3. Vieira found a reliable partner in Ronaldo Schouten, who made 22, but he was trapped by left-arm spinner Chanderpaul Ramraj. Vieira made 50 off 144 balls in an innings that had four boundaries.
The explosive Lovell then came and slammed 67 from 96 balls. He remained unbeaten, and struck four fours and three sixes as Essequibo ended on 233-5, winning by five wickets. Ramraj claimed 2-43 in 20 overs.
Essequibo are coached by current senior national spinner Antony Adams, who did a commendable job with the youths. Berbice had also recorded a first-round win against Demerara at Everest inside two days, after Isai Thorne claimed 7-33.
Berbice also won the 50-over tournament. Both of these tournaments are organized by the GCB and sponsored by the Government of Guyana under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
