The Berbice swashbuckling opening batsman Alex Algoo continued from where he left off on the second day, hitting his highest inter-county score of 175 to lead the Berbice U-19 Team to 404-5 in 86 overs and hand the Guyana Select U-17 a target of 314 for victory.
Zeynul Ramsammy survived Swamy-storm
When, at 15:42, the match was officially called off due to inclement weather, the Select U-17 Team were on 39-3.
Earlier, under clear skies at the Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown, Berbice resumed the day on 292-4, with Algoo on 119 and Benjamin on six. The duo continued to pile on the runs, putting pressure on the Select U-17 bowling. It was clear that the intention was to bat quickly and declare early in the first session.
Garfield Benjamin looked promising during his unbeaten 38
Known for his big-hitting ability, Algoo continued to flourish, but after batting for 292 minutes, his innings ended on 175 runs scored from 237 deliveries when he was out caught and bowled by Chanderpaul Ramraj. He had smashed 10 boundaries and seven sixes in his third inter-county century, and had added 109 runs with Benjamin. Algoo departed at 365-5, leaving his team in a dominant position.
Nigel Deodat hit two huge sixes at Everest
Benajmin, who had top-scored in the first innings, played with class during his unbeaten 38 scored from 64 balls, which included one six and one four. He was well supported by the busy Nigel Deodat, who scored 26 from 21 balls, wherein he had smashed three fours and two sixes.
The declaration ended the brisk unbroken 39-run partnership between Benjamin and Deodat –Blairmont’s fine talent.
Bowling for the Guyana Select U-17 team, leg-spinner Niran Bissu took 2-90 in 17 overs, while left-arm spinner Chanderpaul Ramraj had 2-104 in 25 overs.
Leon Swamy charging in during his burst
In the second innings of play, the Select U-17 openers Zeynul Ramsammy and Matthew Nandu went out to bat under overcast conditions. They survived some testing bowling from Berbice new ball bowlers Kevlon Anderson and Leon Swammy, but wickets came quickly for the Berbicians.
The powerful right-arm speedster Swamy, steaming in from the southern end, took three wickets in four balls. He removed the left-handed Nandu for nine by rocking back his stumps, and sent back an out-of-colour Azizi Christiani for his second duck of the match by destroying the woodwork.
The Tucber Park lad found himself on a hat trick when West Indies U-16 batsman Mavindra Dindyal came to the crease. Dindyal survived the hat-trick ball, but succumbed to ‘the Swamy storm’ the very next ball, being out leg-before for a second-ball duck as the Select U-17 were reduced to 13-3.
After the lunch interval, a great deluge poured from the heavens, and the Select U-17 Team, then at 39-3 after 13 overs of top bowling, were saved by the weather god.
Swamy ended on 3-16 in the second innings, which may have been his breakthrough performance. Alex Algoo was awarded ‘player of the match’ in the drawn encounter that saw the Select U-17 winning first innings points. Berbice have 4.4 points, while Select U-17 have 7.4 points.
The matches will continue on Saturday, May 4, when Berbice will meet Essequibo at Lusignan, ECD, while Demerara and Select U-17 will play at GCC, Bourda. All matches will commence from 10:00h local time.
