Berbice are in good form with a first-innings lead over Demerara on day two of the first-round match of the Guyana Cricket Board Senior Inter-County Four Day Championship.
22-year-old Kevlon Anderson scored a magnificent century for Berbice on the second day of their GCB inter-county four-day cricket match at the Providence Stadium yesterday.
The stylish right-hander from Rosehall Town Youth and Sports Club came to the crease with his side level at 1-1 in reply to Demerara’s 282 and struck the mark 13 times in a lightning strike.
The West Indies Under-19 added 66 for the fifth wicket with Kevin Sinclair, who hit three fours in his 23 runs, as the pair rescued Berbice from a precarious 47-4. After Richie Looknauth’s late effort earlier in the day gave Demerara’s innings a much-needed boost, the bowlers responded with a couple of early wickets, reducing Berbice to 47-4.
Openers Javed Karim (3) and Adrian Suqua (1), Jonathan Foo (16), and Anthony Bramble (0) were the least dismissed, while seam trio Christopher Barnwell, Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed, and Kumar Torrington shared the wickets.
Right-hander Anderson batted for three runs, leading with positive intent and stringing together three vital connections to rebuild the innings. At tea, Berbice were 149-6 with Anderson on 84 and Junior Sinclair on 1.
Anderson’s innings continued to grow after the break and junior Sinclair’s confidence grew as he confidently drove Barnwell to the cover boundary as his innings progressed.
Anderson soon reached a well-deserved century with 13 well-timed fours in 176 balls, 224 minutes to stake a strong claim for a seat on the plane to Carnival Country on March 12 for the third-round match at GHE.
But he attempted a slog sweep off leg-spinner Steven Sankar, who had built a partnership of 84 and Anderson 106, and was dismissed at short mid-wicket at 229-7.
Sinclair continued to drive the bowling attack and combined with Parmaul to get Ali Mohammed through the slip cordon for four before junior Sinclair bowled Barnwell for another four before Parmaul (25) was caught by Ali-Mohammed.
Sinclair scored 100 minutes off 75 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes and was unbeaten with Niall Smith (15*). Demerara resumed at 228-9 and reached 282 before Torrington Smith was LBW earlier.
Torrington (6) put on a 54-run stand for the last wicket with Luknath, while Shamar Joseph scored 15 runs with 2 fours and a six per over, scoring an unbeaten 67 off 83 balls in 121 minutes with 7 fours and 3 hits.
J. Sinclair and skipper Weerasamy Parmaul then put on a 50-run stand for the eighth wicket, contributing exactly half a run to that stand. Nial Smith joined J. Sinclair as the pair negotiated the dying stages defensively on day two, taking their side past Demerara’s total in an unbroken 33-run stand.
J. Sinclair is looking for a century off 117 balls (9×4, 4×6) while Smith is 15 not out (2×4 off 36).
Bowling for Demerara, Barnwell took 2-42, Ali-Mohammed 2-63, and Lucknoth 2-68. Earlier, Demerara resumed at 228-9, unable to find a batting hero in Lucknath.
Demerara squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Matthew Nandu, Raymond Perez, Tevin Imlach, Akshaya Persaud, Shamar Yearwood, Christopher Barnwell, Ronaldo Ali Mohamed, Richie Looknauth, Ashmead Nedd, Steven Sankar, Qumar Torrington, Sachin Singh, and Sachin Balgobin.
Berbice squad: Veerasammy Permaul (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Tommani Ceasar, Adrian Sukwah, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Jonathan Foo, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Romario Shepherd, Nial Smith, Shamar Joseph, Garfield Benjamin, and Shamar Angel.
SUMMARY: Demerara 282 all out from 94.5 overs (Richie Looknauth 67*, Tevin Imlach 62, Christopher Barnwell 28, Leon Johnson 21; Veerasammy Permaul 4-59, Kevin Sinclair 2-49) vs Berbice 312-8 from 83 overs (Kevlon Anderson 106, Junior Sinclair 84*, Veerasammy Permaul 25; Christopher Barnwell 2-42, Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed 2-63, Richie Looknauth 2-68)