GNIC crowned 2016/17 Noble House Seafoods two-day champs

The Guyana National Industrial Corporation saw off a defiant 13-wicket match haul from Transport Sports Club’s (TSC) offspinner Rafael Singh to claim first-innings honors and the title when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Noble House Seafoods two-day, second division final at Georgetown Cricket club (GCC) Bourda ended yesterday. TSC, one of the most consistent second division teams in Georgetown, in their second consecutive final, after losing to the University of Guyana in 2015/16, had to settle for first runners-up in yet another two-day final after failing to cross the line once again. Earlier in the day, TSC resuming their first innings on 68-6, 99 runs behind with four wickets in hand, saw their overnight pair of Shawn Massiah and Azeem Azeeze playing steadily.

Azeeze punched a delivery from off-spinner Gajanan Suknanan through the covers for four while Massiah drove the same bowler exquisitely down the ground.

However, Suknanan struck by removing Azeem (8) ending a 22-run partnership which started to look threatening to leave TSC on 80 for 7. GINC, could have gotten a greater first innings lead had they not squandered a couple of opportunities. Their fielders dropped Massiah twice in the slip cordon off the bowling of medium-pacer Jermain Grosvenor in a lacklustre fielding effort during the morning session.

Akeem Redmon joined Massiah who was given another chance when on 24 and the two took the score to a 100 for seven in the 39th over. Massiah’s luck, however, ran out when former West Indies off-spinner, Clyde Butts rolled back the years to outfox him and had him caught on the mid-wicket boundary from a well-flighted delivery to reduce TSC to 104 for 8 in the 42nd over.

They were eventually dismissed for 123 in 52.2 overs with Butts (3-8) from eight overs and Suknanan (4-29) from 19.2 overs doing the bulk of the damage while Deswin Butts (224) supported in a clinical bowling effort. Massiah’s