For a second successive year, Transport Sports Club (TSC) failed to win the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Nobel House Seafoods Second Division two-day cricket competition, as the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) claimed the title after securing first innings points despite an outstanding individual performance by Rafael Singh, who bagged 13-87 in the match.
The champions GNIC with GCA and Nobel House Seafoods representatives at the conclusion of the Second Division final at GCC, Bourda, on Sunday
Scores in the match: GNIC 167 and 138, while TSC batted once for 124. Resuming day two on 68-6 with skipper Shaun Massiah and Azeem Azeez at the crease, TSC only muster another 56 runs before they were eventually dismissed in the first session.
Gajanan Suknanan, in his return match, snared 4-29 with his off spin, while former West Indies spinner Clyde Butts collected 3-8 and Deswin Butts took 2-24. Massiah topscored with 26.
GNIC extended their first innings lead to 182 after being dismissed for 138 in their second innings. Kurt Lovell hit 40, while Mark Nicholson scored 35.
The two pushed the score past 50 in the 28th over after the interval; Nicholson, however, fell for 35 from 94 balls which included two fours and a six when he pushed a full delivery back to off-spinner Singh to leave GNIC on 64 for 2.
Singh captured his second five-wicket haul for the match, 7-58 in 20.2 overs to follow up his first innings figures of 6-29 ending the match with 13-87. He was named player of the match for his performance.
Owing to the amount of time remaining in the day’s play, the two captains decided to call off the match before its scheduled closure.
TSC won the title in 2015, but finished as runners up in 2016 and 2017. GNIC are the champions after a solid display throughout the tournament.
