Johnson scores most runs, Savory best wicketkeeper -as Franchise League concludes -West Berbice hands Essequibo first loss in last round
After winning the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) 50overs Franchise League title in the penultimate round, Essequibo suffered their first loss at the hands of West Berbice who won by 115 runs at Port Mourant, West Berbice yesterday, their fourth consecutive win of the tournament.
After the match, the presentation ceremony immediately followed where Director of Cricket West Indies and GCB Honorary Secretary, Anand Sanasie said the tournament has worked out most of the niggles from the last one, while pleading to help with the rehabilitation of the ground. Sanasie went on to state that the tournament was much closer this year and congratulated Essequibo on a job well done. He pointed out that “something is definitely working over there” as they finished second last year in the tournament and are the reigning three-day champions.
In the prize-giving ceremony, Essequibo walked away with $200,000, 22year-old Kemol Savory with nine dismissals was the best wicketkeeper for the second year in a row while Leon Johnson was deemed the leading run scorer of the tournament. The leading wicket taker is still to be verified.
Savory said his success was all about hard work and dedication not only behind the wicket but with bat in hand as well, being only one of three batsmen to score centuries this season.
Successful skipper, Anthony Adams said the tournament was good and the players really pulled through to come out with the title. The captain added that “what is good with the team is that everyone and anyone can win a game on their day” and he was proud of their performance after finishing runners-up last year and crossing the line this year to lift the title
Essequibo won the toss yesterday and decided to give their bench a match, ringing in three changes and taking to the field first on arguably the worst outfield in the competition but one of the better batting pitches which saw West Berbice muscling their way to 278-5 from their full quota and Essequibo replying with 163 all out in 38 overs. West Berbice captain, Gudakesh Motie said it was a good tournament for them and a good match as well, noting that the players gelled well together. He highlighted the support he got from them and Karim’s performance in the tournament has carried on the same form he showed in the recent under-19 tournament. NEW DELHI, India, CMC – India’s Test squad which will face the visiting West Indies in a two-match Test series has yet to be named.
However, the team is set to be picked tomorrow following fitness tests by speedster Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
“Ashwin is already doing his rehabilitation at the NCA for a groin injury. Even Ishant is expected to join him there. As of now, there is a fitness test scheduled on Saturday, September 29. The selectors may announce the team a day earlier if NCA physios and trainers rule the duo out even before fitness tests,” a senior BCCI said on Wednesday.
A meeting to pick the team was to be held on Wednesday, but due to a clash of itineraries that meeting had to be cancelled. “It was scheduled earlier but the five selectors’ itinerary Coach of the new 50-overs champions, Ryan Hercules who adds another title on the list and the reigning three-day champions said that winning is all that the team wants to do and is happy that it continues to excel. Hercules noted that the youngsters continue to step up and show their worth which is a good sign for cricket.
With a 45-minute delay due to preparation moisture, West Berbice lost Kevin Sinclair to the fourth delivery of the match, trapped leg before wicket to under-19 seamer, Joshua Jones. They recovered well to bring up the team’s fifty in the 11th over and continued that momentum with Leon Andrews and Javed was clashing as one (Sarandeep Singh) is in Dubai, while two others (Jatin Paranjpe and Gagan Khoda) are watching Vijay Hazare Trophy at different venues. So it was decided that this will be an informal meeting where the selectors will take a stock of the situation,” the official added.
There are still a few grey areas that selectors are dealing with, especially the opening slot and the specialist spinners in the squad of 15.
“The selection committee’s aim is to have a team for the series that will be a mirror image of the squad that will travel to Australia. Maybe two more players to the 15 for the Tests will be added when the team travels Down Under,” said the official.
As of now, Shikhar Dhawan despite his poor returns from the England Tests remains team management’s favourite to continue. Karim putting on 88 runs from 124 for the second wicket with Karim, another under-19 player being the aggressor. Essequibo picked up two quick wickets, with Andrews (33) and Marvan Persaud who was run out after sharp fielding from substitute, Quentin Sampson.
Seon Glasgow joined Karim, sharing in a partnership worth 42 runs with Karim bringing up his second consecutive fifty. Karim eventually made 74 from 107 balls inclusive of seven fours and a pair of sixes before mistiming a pull shot into the hands of Kevon Boodie who ran in from the long off boundary.
However, the West Berbice skipper, ensured Ishant Sharma is hoping to be fit for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies
It will be a challenge for the selectors to push Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal’s case. his side scored 103 runs in the last 10 overs as he shared an unbroken partnership of 113 from just 77 balls with Andrew Dutchin. Motie smoked the out of sorts bowling order to all parts of the boundary, flicking, pulling and thumping the bowlers for five fours and a half dozen sixes on his way to his second half century in the tournament, 84 not out, his highest score in franchise cricket from 55 balls. Dutchin remained unbeaten on 39 from 36 balls. Left arm orthodox bowlers, Akinie Adams and Mark Williams took two wickets each for 31 and 45 runs respectively.
In reply, Essequibo were slow in their first 10 overs despite Boodie smashing Keon Joseph for three consecutive fours in the fifth over, reaching 38-1 at the end of the 10-over powerplay with Pamesh Parsotan falling to Sinclair’s offspin.
Boodie was run out just after the powerplay for 27 while Savory (36) and Anthony Adams shared in a half century partnership. Adams eventually brought up his second consecutive half century as well, scoring 53 with four sixes and one four. Ronsford Beaton (17) and Akinie Adams (10) also made contributions. Kevin Jawahir was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4-40 while Motie and Sinclair had two wickets each.