Led by a collective batting effort including half-centuries from Kwesi Mickle and Brandon Corlette, Tucber Park took honors on the opening day of their second round clash in the Banks Beer BCB 2 Day first division match against Blairmont at Cotton Tree. The visiting Tucber Park team racked up 274 all out in 58.4 overs and Blairmont were 37-1 at stumps.
Corlette bats during his solid knock
Due to the moisture in the pitch, play began at 12:00h with Tucber Park winning the toss and opting to bat first. Despite the damp surface, esteemed 19-year old Sport Journalist, Brandon Corlette and his opening partner, Malcolm Mickle took the shine off the ball with a 24-run partnership.
Mickle held out to mid-on for 14 off veteran spinner Shabeer Baksh, the first ball he bowled. Corlette was joined by the National Under 19 batsman, Garfield Benjamin who dominated the 61-run partnership for the second wicket. Corlette who was absent from the game for over six months returned in finesse.
Kwesi Mickle stroked an attractive 76 and Smith slammed 44
Despite not timing the ball to perfection, Corlette dug deep and played a fighting knock. Benjamin looked at his classy best but his promising innings was cut short when he edged on to second slip off the leggie, Kevin Jawaher. Benjamin’s classy knock of 30 was decorated with two fours and two sixes.
After Benjamin departed with the score on 85-2, Tucber Park lost some quick wickets. Clifton Lindie departed for a duck, attempting to hit one into the left-side. Former Guyana Under-15 batsman, Tomani Caesar joined Corlette and the duo took the the score to 109-4. Caesar was dismissed by Jawaher with a beauty which rattled the stumps. Corlette reached his patient fifty with a four through covers.
Kevim Jawaher had 5-88
The 19-year old Corlette, who scored 59 departed when he was trapped in front by a googly by the impressive Jawaher. His solid knock was decorated with eight fours and two sweet sixes. Guyana Under-19 player Leon Swamy and Kwesi Mickle played some explosive shots and took the score to 165-6. Swamy was dismissed for 31 after smashing four boundaries and one huge six.
Captain Keion DeJesus had brief stay at the crease after scoring three as Tucber Park slipped to 174-7 in 40 overs at Tea. After the break, Gevon Schultz was dismissed for a duck as the score moved on to 174-8. The elder Mickle brother, Kwesi showed some great technique and scored freely with Guyana Jaguars player, Nial Smith. The dynamic duo in Smith and Mickle took the score to 266 with 92-run partnership.
Brandon Corlette celebrates his half-century
In the process Mickle reached his aggressive fifty but he lost Smith. The latter, struck a blistering 44 which included four sixes and the similar number of fours. Mickle eventually fell for a well played 76 which was decorated with seven fours and five sixes. His wicket was the last to fall, ending the score on 274 all out in 58.4 overs. Jawaher snared 5-88 in 15 overs after returning to bowling after some time. Deodat took 3-63 in 19.4 overs.
In reply, Blairmont ended the day on 37-1 with Smith removing Guyana Youth player, Marvan Prashad for 16 who was strangled down the leg side. Today’s play will commence from 9:30h at Cotton Tree West coast Berbice.
