Persaud’s 3rd consecutive half-century guides CICC to semis

Guyana Jaguars middle-order batsman Akshaya Persaud followed up his unbeaten half-century, with a classy 74 to lead Cornelia Ida Cricket Club (CICC) to victory over Rising Stars Cricket Club in the West Demerara Cricket Board’s 50-over competition at Canal Polder Number Two Ground.

Cornelia are now into the semi-final stage of the competition after Rising Stars won the toss, putting the CICC side in to bat and ended up losing by 75 runs.
The match was reduced to 40 overs per side as a result of Rising Stars’ late entrance. Batting first, CICC composed a mammoth total of 255-7 in their allotted 40 overs. Persaud, who had scored two consecutive half-centuries in his last two games, followed up with his third as his 74 comprised 10 smashing fours and a towering six.
Persaud was offered support by teammates Richie Looknauth (38); Mohammed Wazidali (32*); Naveed Alli (30) and Avinash Dhaniram (22).
Rising Stars’ Marvin Chung had 2-34, and Christian Husbands bagged 1-35 while Shane Persaud and Sachin Singh claimed one wicket each.
Needing 256 for victory, Rising Stars were restricted to 181 all out in 32.4 overs.
Despite Shane Persaud’s 46, which included eight fours, and Shaquille Brisports’ 33, the Stars were harassed by the bowling of the CICC as no other batsman could offer resistance in the run chase. Harinarine Bissondyal finished with 3-22, Alli had 2-24, and Looknauth claimed 2-32 while Persaud, Dhaniram and Wazidali picked up one wicket each.
The semi-finals for the competition will be held on November 25 at Wales as CICC face off against McGill Super Stars in the first semi-final while at Bridge Ground, Independence Sports Club will battle it out with Zeeburg Sports Club in the other semi.