The action continued in the West Demerara Cricket Board’s 50 overs competition in semi-final one at Canal Polder Number Two, which saw the in-form Cornelia Ida Cricket Club (CICC) lose to McGill SC in a rain-hit thriller.
Akshaya Persaud scored an unbeaten 98 and bagged 4-22 in a losing effort
Owing to inclement weather, the game was reduced to 40 overs per side. CICC won the toss and decided to bat first at the Canal Number Two Ground as they intended to post a big total.
The CICC players, while attacking the ball, played with patience and were able to post 211-5 off 38 overs as the rains came once again, forcing play to be stopped.
CICC were given the advantage as their secret weapon, Guyana Jaguars middle-order batsman Akshaya Persaud returned.
Persaud scored his fourth consecutive half-century of the tournament which included six boundaries and four maximums.
Supporting Persaud was Dhaniram Azamudeen, who played a patient knock of 54 that included 4 fours and 4 sixes. The only other batsman to make double figures was Mohammad Wazidali with 11 as no other form of support was offered.
Leading the bowling for McGill was Amar Deen who bagged 2-41 while Balram Aron, Daniel Basdeo, and Travis Persaud took one wicket each.
The rain then came again as it showed intention of disrupting the innings of the McGill SC; however, the Duckworth-Lewis method was implemented and a new score was devised – the batting team now needed 153 off 27 overs.
McGill SC chased the revised total down with a few hiccups along the way as they reached the target of 157-8 in 26.4 overs.
Leading the innings for McGill was Prahalad Singh, who stroked a brilliant 70 not out, which included 8 sixes. He was ably supported by Daniel Basdeo, who stroked a resistant 20, which included 2 sixes. Persaud then claimed 4-22 for CICC as Richie Looknauth bagged 2-12 while Naveed Alli and Wazidali took one wicket each.
