Ali-Mohammed blitz destroys Ace Warriors
A 17-ball 62 by Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed flattened Ace Warriors at the Gandhi Youth Organisation ground on Saturday as the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) raced to a fivewicket win in the Georgetown Cricket Association/New Building Society Second Division 40-overs tournament.
Batting first, Ace Warriors were all out for 142 in 30.5 overs while GCC required only 18 overs to reach their target of 143, losing five wickets along the way.
GCC were in a spot of bother losing Martin Pestano-Belle with the score on 17 but recovered with Timothy McAlmont joining Marlon Persaud to put on 52 for the second wicket. Persaud was bowled by Clayon Halley for 17 which included two boundaries to bring AliMohammed to the crease.
Ali-Mohammed in his first game since returning from the Guyana team that participated in the Cricket West Indies Regional Super50 tournament blasted six fours and six sixes straight down the ground.
His innings was particularly brutal on Halley, whom he dispatched for 17 and 26 in successive overs, forcing the captain to exit the bowling attack as he was launched to all parts of the neighbouring trench and into the Tutorial High School.
During his innings, AliMohammed saw just two dot balls and two singles with the rest coming in boundaries.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport, Ali-Mohammed said he came out with a point to prove with the Guyana captain, Leon Johnson among the spectators. AliMohammed commented that the bowling was like that of batting in the nets.
Ali-Mohammed was national youth players Sachin Singh (1), Alphius Bookie (5) Joshua Persaud (4) and Ashmead Nedd (12) all failed.
Persaud, bowling his offspin, was the chief wickettaker and got support from Leon Lecock (325), Trevon France (2-32) and Keishan Singh (2-24).
GYO in response, wobbled a bit after they were reduced to 61 – 5 with Nedd (2-20) and Qumar Torrington (2-20) making early inroads. supported by McAlmont who was happy to give AliMohammed the strike but was also brutal, scoring 35, inclusive of six fours. McAlmont was lucky to be dropped on 34 after the two fielders collided straight down the ground.
Only Meqial Parks showed some form with the ball, taking 2-10 from his two overs including the wickets of Ali-Mohammed who was bowled and Gavin Singh who was trapped leg before wicket.
Earlier, Ace Warriors were given a golden start as Rawl Enmore and Murtland Ward shared an opening stand of 50, scoring 20 and 28 respectively. However, Bernard Bailey and Singh blew away the top order as only Parks with 19 and Davendra Lall with 20 not out showed any intention of batting long.
Singh ended with 3-37 while Bailey, Chetram Persaud and Stephon Wilson complimented with two wickets each.
Persaud, nonetheless, held his composure and smartly saw his side home – 110 for 7 – by stroking left-arm spinner Keanu Harry over cover for three consecutive sixes to gift his team an exciting low-scoring three-wicket win.
Meanwhile, the contest between the University of Guyana (UG) and GNIC was abandoned without a ball being bowl due to a wet pitch.