Undefeated Demerara crowned champions – Latif, Jodah, Dindyal star for Demerara

Dave West Indian Imports U-15 Inter-county tournaments…

By Brandon Corlette

Demerara lifted the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) Dave West Indian Imports Under-15 Inter County title when they defeated Berbice by seven wickets in the final match played at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground at Bourda.
Berbice were bowled out for 72 in 40.4 overs, while Demerara responded with 75-3 in 17 overs.
Earlier in the day, Demerara won the toss and elected to bowl first on a turning pitch. Berbice openers Christopher Deoroop and Rampertab Ramnauth began proceedings for the Berbicians by sharing a 20-run opening partnership. Rampertab continued his impressive season with the bat, and was the top-scorer. He was out caught off a bumper bowled by Thaddeus Lovell for a calculated 21, after facing 32 balls.
With the score on 36, his opening partner Deoroop, having struggled for his 42-ball five, was trapped leg before by last round’s player of the match, Omari Lalbachan.
Demerara bowlers kept chipping away at the wickets. Berbice lost Albion player Tameshwar Mohabir for 02, out bowled by the talented young leg-spinner.
Tucber Park’s wicket-keeper batsman Ravishkar Sobhai was the other Berbice batsman to reach double figures, with 16 from 52 balls. Eventually the boys from the ancient county succumbed to Demerara’s brilliance with the ball when the innings concluded at 72 all out in 40.4 overs.
Bowling for Demerara, leg-spinner Rayad Latiff grabbed 4-29 in 10 overs, including one maiden. Talented off-spinner Krsna Singh had 2-4 in 6.4 overs; while Lovell, Lalbachan and Jodah had one wicket each.
Zacahary Jodah, a left-arm spinner, bowled with great control, ending with dream figures of 1-1 in nine overs, including eight speechless maidens.
In reply, Demerara made light work of the small target, after encountering a few hiccups. Aggressive opener Jadon Campbell lost his wicket scoring three runs at 12-1 when he was trapped in front by Bhaskar Dhanai. His fellow opener Romeo Deonarine scored 13 before being trapped in front by Dhani at 24-2.
Captain Alvin Mohabir steered the ship for a brief moment, but he was out bowled by Salim Khan for eight. It was then the Dindyal show commenced. Riding his luck after being dropped on zero, he finished the innings for Demerara with a classy unbeaten 37, which included three boundaries. Jodah was the other unbeaten batsman with four in Demerara’s complete performance.
Bowling for Berbice, Dhanai had 2-21 in six overs, while Salim Khan had 1-14 in four overs.
Speaking exclusively to this publication after the match, Demerara Captain Alvin Mohabir said the guys executed the game plan brilliantly.
“We wanted to bowl out Berbice for 80 and we did better than that,” Mohabir disclosed. Rampertab Ramnauth was awarded for scoring the most runs in the tournament; he aggregated 215 runs, with a high score of 147.
Another Berbician, Matthew Pottaya, was awarded for the most wickets; he collected 12 wickets during the tournament, a best bowling figure of 5-27. It was a great initiative by the Sponsor, Mr. Dave Narine, of Dave West Indian Imports and the Guyana Cricket Board, to host a youth tournament of the highest quality.