GCB/Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-County…
– Algoo smashes ton in Berbice’s triumph
By Akeem Greene
The National Under-17 Select team has an uphill task of saving face on the final day of their Guyana Cricket Board (GCB),Hand-in-Hand Insurance sponsored Under-19 Inter- County match against Demerara after ending Wednesday’s play in need of 289 to make the defending champions bat again.
Man of the Match, Alex Algoo collects his award from GCB’s PRO Andy Ramnarine
The under-17s conceded a heavy deficit after Windies Under-19 left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd rebounded from a tardy opening spell to find his wicket-taking grove and unravel the middle-order.
Nedd snatched 5-38 from 14 overs while off-spinner Nkosie Beaton accounted for 3-20 in his 11-over spell which ensured the U-17s only managed 180 in response to Demerara’s mammoth first innings total of 489-8 declared.
Opting to impose the follow-on, the U-17s reached 11-1 at stumps with marque batsman and captain Sachin Singh back in the hut after being trapped leg before to the off-spin of Dwain Dick for just 10; Navendra Persaud is unbeaten on one while Andrew Samaroo is yet to score.
Their first innings began with Singh and Persaud showing great grit to fend-off a steamy Qumar Torrington who peppered the duo with some short-pitched bowling. Singh, an elegant left-hander who is known for his flamboyant drives, kept his bat close to his pad, only playing under his eyes and rotating the strike spritely.
The tactic certainly frustrated the fielding unit and the small audience much of whom are relatives of the players felt he was in for a long haul, reaching 47 at lunch.
Former Windies U-16 captain Sachin Singh waged a valiant attack against the formidable Demerara bowling unit with a classy 60 in the first innings (Akeem Greene Photo)
Singh, capitalised on some loose bowling by Nedd early in his spell crashing him through cover for boundaries on the lush Everest greens. The spinner could have had his club mate before the interval but wicket-keeper Adrian Hinds missed a thin deflection.
The skipper shrugged-off the lapse in concentration and continue his assault smashing 7 fours and 2 sixes in his attractive 60 which had a century written all over it until Hinds made amends off the bowling of Nedd.
After the first dismal at 74, it became a procession as Persaud who weathered the early storm failed to progress, falling for just 13. The next meaningful fight came off the bat of Yeudistir Persaud with a score of 48 (6x4s) and what looked to be a promising fight, ended in 68 overs.
*300-man Yadram*
The tale of the first session was young batting prodigy Bhaskar Yadram progressing from his overnight total of 260 to reach 301 not out. The innings was a monumental record-breaking feat, erasing Leon Johnson’s 193 for Demerara against Essequibo at Bourda in 2004.
The 18 year-old’s stats were astounding as the triple figure score came off 252 balls for which he spent over four and half hours at the crease, smashing 28 fours and 17 sixes.
Let it sink in! Bhaskar Yadram savours reaching 300 on Wednesday at the Everest Cricket Club ground
Speaking to Guyana Times Sport after the majestic knock he expressed great delight in being able to achieve such a score and this level, one which he plans on cherishing for a life-time. The right-hander who braved through the pain of an ankle injury further revealed he was still hungry for an even bigger score. Play continues today from 10:00h.
Over at the Lusignan Community Centre ground, Berbice defeated Essequibo by nine wickets, chasing just four runs for victory. Berbice resumed from their overnight first innings total of 149 and reached 222 all out from 84.5 overs.
Windies Youth player Ashmead Nedd found his rhythm and wrecked the National under-17 Select team with 5-38 (Akeem Greene Photo)
Opening batsman Alex Algoo top moved his overnight score 83 to 111 and gained support Kevlon Anderson (35) and Javid Karim (15).
Essequibo who were routed for 80 in their first innings, showed greater fight with the bat to make 145 all out on their second outing due top-scoring knocks by Joshua Jones (39) and Quintin Sampson (27); Kurt Lovell made 22.
