uyana under-19 captain Travis Persaud scored a responsible half century to guide West Demerara to a competitive total of 253 on a day that batsmen had to toil for runs due to the nature of the pitch and the accuracy of the East Bank/Upper Demerara bowlers.
Paying at the Everest Cricket Club Ground on Friday, West Demerara suffered several hiccups after being asked to take first strike but in the end managed the highest total in four innings on a pitch which is offering much assistance to the slower bowlers. Apart from Persaud’s determination, national opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul scored 47 while Mahendra Dhanpaul laboured in a tenth wicket partnership to carry his team from 197-9 to 253 all out as he was the last man to depart. He made 43 runs.
Bowling for East Bank, Sherfane Rutherford along with spinners Steven Jacobs and Totaram Bishun grabbed two wickets each.
Jonathan FooAnthony AdamsTravis Persaud
In reply East Bank reached 55-2 when play ended. Towering fast bowler Romario Shepherd has so far gotten both of the wickets to fall. They will start the second day trailing by 197 runs with eight wickets in hand.
At Enterprise Community Development Centre ground, Upper Corentyne after being sent in made 149 all out (57.3 overs). Keon Sinclair 36 not out, Anthony Bramble 30, Clinton Pestano 23. Bowling for East Coast, Ameer Khan had 2/21, Paul Wintz 2/20 and Vivian Albert 2/33.
East Coast Demerara was some 24 runs away from achieving first innings with just four wickets in hand. They were 126/6 at the close with Rajendra Chandrika on 31 not out. Kamesh Yadram scored 44 and his younger brother Bhaskar Yadram, who scored a half century in the first round, made 26.
Over to Berbice at the Albion Community Centre Ground, visitors Georgetown, who won the toss and elected to bat first, was dismissed for 212. Christopher Barnwell top scored with 35, Robin Bacchus 32, Andrew Light Jnr. 27, Dexter Solomon 26 and Ovid Richardson made 25. Veerasammy Permaul snared 4/53 and Jonathan Foo 3/11 bowling for Lower Corentyne.
In reply, Lower Corentyne closed at 123/3 with the in-form Jonathan Foo on 75 not out. Kandasammy Surujnarine made 35.
Across at t Cumberland, West Berbice was dismissed for 171 in 53.3 overs. Raffael Estraido and Shimron Hetmyer top scored with 34. Bowling for Essequibo, Anthony Adams took 5/60 while Akenie Adams claimed 2/18.
Essequibo in reply is on 111/8 at the close with Anthony Adams on 30 not out.
