GCB 50-Over Franchise League…Tagenarine Chanderpaul all-round performance helps W/Dem to thrilling last over win

Nov 26, 2017 Sports, https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...lling-last-over-win/

By Sean Devers
Led by a useful all-round performance at Bush Lot by Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who followed up his 4-31 with an unbeaten 56, West Demerara beat West Berbice by one wicket in a thrilling last over victory after the host elected to bat on a slow track in hot conditions.
West Demerara fell for 173 in 36 overs with Sherwin McPherson top scoring with 44 from 36 balls with five fours and a six. But only Steffon Adams with an unbeaten 30 with four fours passed 20.
Chanderpaul, known more his left-handed batting, captured 4-31 in his new role as off-spinner, while fellow off-spinner Rich Looknauth captured 3-11 for West Demerara who replied with 174-9 to snatch victory from the Jaws of defeat with their last pair at the crease and just two balls to spare in the intriguing contest.
Chanderpaul was run out for 56 from 122 balls with just three boundaries as he again struggled to score freely, while Safaz Esau supported with 47 from 73 balls decorated with three fours and two sixes before an important 48 with four fours and two sixes from 52 balls from Mahendra Dhanpaul batting at number eight, ensured that the team from the West side emerged victorious.
When Tevin Imlach (2) was forced to retire hurt after being struck on his foot from West Indies ‘A’team pacer Keon Joseph with just two runs on the board. The few fans in the ground most have been harbouring high hope of a home team win, but Esau and Chanderpaul dashed those hope with a carefully constructed 88-run partnership with Esau dominating the union.
The pair batted carefully although Esau hit Joseph for six as their partnership prospered under a clear blue sky before Krishandat Ramoo struck in the 18th over when he had Esau stumped at 90-1.
Imlach returned but did not last long as Ramoo had him LBW without addition to the score before West Demerara slumped to 98-6 as they lost six wickets for eight runs.
Dhanpaul and Chanderpaul revived the position by taking the score to 168 with a 70-run stand before three wickets tumbled for two runs including Chanderpaul who was run out at 170-9.
With the scores tied with three balls to go last man Keshram Seyhobian hit Joseph for three to spark wild celebrations in the West Demerara camp.
Earlier, a very small Saturday turn out watched Raffel Estraido got going with a boundary in the first over off National pacer Romario Shepherd before Looknauth struck when he got rid of Leon Andrews (4) at 24-1.
The 22-year-old Shepherd removed Estraido (12) six runs later and West Demerara were soon in further trouble as they slipped to 38-3 when Kevin Sinclair (2) edged pacer Diquan Murray to the Keeper.
Arthley Bailey, who hit three fours in 18, joined McPherson and the pair staged a mini recovery on the rough outfield and added 38 for the fourth wicket before Bailey fell to Akshaya Persaud and when McPherson was caught off the 21-year-old Chanderpaul when four short of a fifty, the home team were in deep trouble at 116-5.
More trouble was in store for the Region Five team when Chanderpaul, known more for his left-handed batting, got rid of Guyana player Gudakesh Motie who hit a 23-ball 20 and Ramoo (1) to leave West Berbice on 130-7.
Joseph (1) was bowled by Chanderpaul at 144-8. Adams was joined by Steven Harris who threw his bat around and connected with a couple of sixes and a four in his 10-ball 19 and added 29 for the ninth wicket with Adams.
But Looknauth, whose action and bowling have improved tremendously from last year, wrapped up the innings when he bowled Harris and Wasar Hassan for a duck as the last two wickets fell at 173 as Adams ran out of partners.
The fourth round has just two games and is scheduled for today from 09:00hrs with West Berbice hosting Georgetown at Bush Lot and three-day Champions Essequibo facing off with East Coast at the beautiful Imam Bacchus ground on the Essequibo Coast.
Meanwhile, at Port Mourant Upper Corentyne were dismissed for 141 in 35.3 overs with Rajiv Ivan making 55, Anthony Bramble 28, and David Latchaya 18.
Nial Smith had 3- 26, while Royston Crandon (3-16) and Kassim Khan (2-30) bowled well for Lower Corentyne who reached 143-2 from 24 overs.
Jonathan Foo hammered an unbeaten 79, while Sharaz Ramcharran supported with 55 not out, as the two shared in an unbroken partnership of 129 to see Lower Corentyne to an eight-wicket win