The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Male Inter-County 2023 four-day tournament kicked off yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium (GNS) in Providence.
GCB Seniors will take on Berbice at Demerara GNS in the first round action of the Inter-County four-day championship while Essequibo will take on GCB Select XI at the Enmore Community Center ground from February 25-28.
The senior four-day match will also serve as a warm-up for the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) ahead of the resumption of the West Indies 2023 Championship on March 15.
Last October, GCB hosted the first senior inter-county tournament after an absence of over five years when they played the Super50 tournament. Berbice were crowned champions by defeating Essequibo in the final in Providence. However, the first round of the 2023 Senior Four-Day Inter-County Championship begins today at GNS.
Accordingly, Veerasamy Parmaul of Berbice took 3 wickets and Tevin Imlach of Demerara took the lead in batting with a half-century.
Berbice, who won the toss and introduced Demerara, scored 228 for 9 in 86.2 overs. Permaul, who led Berbice in the absence of designated skipper Shimron Hetmyer, took 4-47 in 27.2 overs, 10 of which were maidens.
Despite the absence of his fellow left-arm spinner Gudakesh Moti, Parmaul partnered with off-spinner Kevin Sinclair who took 2-30 from his bowlers. Junior Sinclair and pacers Romario Shepherd and Niall Smith took a wicket each.
Imlach, batting at number three, steadied Demerara’s innings to make it 61-3 after opening batsmen Mathew Nandu (15) and Sachin Singh (9), and Akshay Persaud (6) were at least dismissed.
Skipper Leon Johnson was dismissed for 21 at 92-4, while Imlach and Christopher Barnwell formed the best partnership of the innings and put on 57 for the fifth wicket.
From 149-4, Demerara slumped to 169-7 with the dismissals of Imlach (62 off 182 balls), Barnwell, and Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed (10) within 20 runs.
Richie Looknauth (19*) followed with Ashmead Nedd (19) for 40 in the 8th wicket and Steven Sankar (13) for 19 in the 9th were the last two wickets for Permaul. When play resumes on Sunday, quarterback Qumar Torington will partner Looknauth.
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.
February 25-28 at Guyana National Stadium and Enmore Community Center Stadium Action starts at 10:00. The second round of the Senior Men’s Inter-County Four-Day Championship is scheduled to be held from March 3-6.
SUMMARY: Demerara 228-9 from 86.2 overs (Tevin Imlach 62, Christopher Barnwell 28, Leon Johnson 21; Veerasammy Permaul 4-47, Kevin Sinclair 2-30) vs Berbice