Essequibo Anacondas, Jaguars record victories at Enmore
The two Essequibo franchises, the Anacondas and Jaguars, both recorded wins yesterday at the Enmore Community Centre Ground as the Guyana Cricket Board's (GCB) T10 Blast finally saw action after Tuesday’s games were rained out.
The Essequibo Anacondas squared up against the Berbice Piranhas in the first game of the day, albeit reduced to 8 overs (due to a wet outfield), and got to a 4wicket win after successfully chasing down the Piranhas’s total of 48.
The eventual man of the match, Kwesi Mickle, led the chase with 21 off 12 (2x4) after snaring 3/22 to help restrict the Piranhas to a par total.
After winning the toss earlier, Anacondas skipper Anthony Adams sent in the Piranhas to bat, and they could not get any momentum going with Berbice captain Veerasammy Permaul leading the way for his side with an aggressive 22 off 9 featuring two sixes and two fours, with Rivaldo Phillips (13) providing support. While Mickle did the early damage, Raymond Perez took a hat-trick to end with 3/4 from his solitary over.
In reply, the Anacondas found themselves in a spot of bother after Garfield Benjamin reduced them to 14/3. Benjamin had a double strike in the first over, having Perez stumped while he had Ushardeva Balgobin out-caught. He returned in the third over to bowl Jonathan Foo.
However, Mickle and Kevon Boodie took their side to safety, with the Anacondas ending on 49/4 with two deliveries to spare. Benjamin ended up with 3/15 (2 overs). In the second match of the day, Kemol Savoury led the Essequibo Jaguars to a well-deserved 7-wicket win over the Berbice Caimans.
After being sent into bat, the Caimans could only muster 81/6 from their 10 overs as all-rounder Kevin Sinclair (20 off 12) (2x4 1x6) and vice-captain Kevlon Anderson (26 off 18) (1x6) along with Steven Sankar (10) chipped in with scores.
Fast-bowler Nial Smith (1-10), spinner Ashmead Nedd (1-15) and Joemal LaFleur (1-17) were the wicket-takers for the Jaguars.
Savoury’s man-of-the-match knock of 29 not out (4sx2) led his side to victory with one ball to spare.
Earlier in the run-chase, experienced openers Shemroy Barrington (22) and Chandrapaul Hemraj (18) gave the Jaguars a good foundation. National U19 batsman Mavindra Dindyal (10) and his captain carried on the run chase, paving the way for the win.
Sankar picked up 2-11, while Sinclair chipped in with 1-12.
Round 3 continues today at the Malteenoes Sports Club Ground with the Anacondas and Pitbulls playing each other from noon, while the Piranhas and Hawks battle from 2:30pm.