Windies under-19 star, Joshua Persaud fresh from the Youth World Cup in New Zealand made hay while the sun shone on Saturday and he certainly made it big by smashing a sublime 150 not out to place his new alliance Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in full control at home against Police Sports Club (PSC).
The stylish wicket-keeper batsman playing his first match for DCC in the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) General Industrial and Supplies Enterprise (GISE), Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall first Division two-day Competition after switching from the Wooldford Avenue based Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) was the mainstay of his side’s innings who declared at 261-7 but left the lawmen 45-4, still 216 adrift from 1st innings points.
Young batting prodigy Joshua Persaud celebrates reaching triple figure mark for Demerara Cricket Club against Police Sports Club on Saturday (photo by John Ramsign)
With early morning showers pushing start of play to 12:30h, Persaud entered the creased under immense pressure as Tevin Imlach (00), Trevon Griffith (06), Christopher Barnwell (01), fellow Windies u-19 player Raymond Perez (00) and Sherfane Rutherford (07) all were back in the pavilion with the total 32-5.
Opener Sachin Singh looked like he would have a prolonged stay at the crease with Persaud until his compact 28 (2x4s; 1×6) was cut short by Vishal Jaigobin (1-35) and the Queenstown unit were now 85-6.
Former National youth player Steven Sankar more known for his leg-spin played a counter-attacking innings of 36 (3x4s; 3x6s) to lend much needed support to his partner taking the total 152-7.
As Sagar Hathiramani (36*) came to the middle, Persaud took more of the strike and used his wrist to good effect with some whipping shots off pacer Stephan Harris (4-58) who seemed unplayable earlier in the day.
The 18 year-old took a toll on national pacer Raun Johnson (2-60) who got appreciable bounce on the unusual spicy track. To reach his milestone, the right-hander elegantly lifted Johnson over long-on for one his 15 maximums. For good measure, he added nine crisp fours to his name to entertain the small but vocal crowd.
After Barnwell made the declaration, former DCC player Andrew Lyth Jr (03) and Kevon Boodie (16) succumbed to seamers Qumar Torrington and Rutherford.
The spin of another Windies u-19 player Ashmead Need was introduced and he quickly snapped up former teammate Kemol Savoury (05) and Mark Gonsalves for a five-ball duck; at the crease are Pernell London and ten and eight respectively.
Over at the Everest Cricket Club, in the other match of the day, the home side reached 199-9 against Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) when bad light stopped play after 66 overs were possible. The diminutive Ronaldo Renee top-scored with 59 while Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 47 with a lone boundary; Gudakesh Motie was the next best 22.
Marcus Watkins led with the ball for the visitors picking up 3 for 20 and support came from Kellon Carmichael with 2-38 and Rawle Murrell 2-58. Action will continue today from 9:00h. (Akeem Greene)
