West Indies Under-19 all-rounder Keemo Paul smashed an unbeaten 156 from 120 balls to pilot Essequibo to a comfortable 56-run win over the Select Under-17s in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) sponsored Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Under-19, one-day cricket tournament on Wednesday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
Paul featured in an eighth wicket stand of 157 with Leslie Adams, a partnership which last just 15.2 overs.
Keemo Paul receives his Man-of-the-Match award from Match Referee Reon King
Such was Paul’s dominance that he accounted for a whopping 140 runs in the partnership, which was the backbone of Essequibo’s 231-8 in 44 overs.
In response, the Under-17s reached 175 all out at the end of 42 overs, as Joshua Persaud with yet another classy innings of 58 and Sachin Singh (39) topped the scores.
Off-spinner Looknauth Chinkoo, with 3-19 from nine miserly overs, led the bowling for Essequibo, while Akini Adams (2-23) and Reaz Khan (2-30) were the other successful bowlers.
The boys from the Cinderella County won the toss, but the decision to bat first backfired, as they were reduced to 74-8.
However, the right-handed Paul played a lone destructive hand, hitting 15 sixes and eight fours in his innings.
Paul was dropped on 82, but later reached his hundred with three consecutive sixes; the landmark coming off 105 balls.
The 18-year-old stepped up the run rate further and soon completed his 150 off 119 deliveries.
Tameshwar Motieram with 3-21 and left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (2-15) were the wicket takers for the Under-17s.
The tournament will continue on Friday with Demerara playing the Under-17s at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Berbice tackling Essequibo at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC).
