The 2025 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 Inter-County Super50 Championship bowled off with emphatic victories for Demerara and Berbice, as both teams stamped their authority in the opening round of the highly anticipated youth tournament.
At the Imam Bacchus Sports Club Ground, Demerara faced off against Essequibo in a low-scoring thriller. Opting to bat first, Demerara managed just 96 runs in 24.3 overs, with Romeo Deonarain top-scoring at 18. Essequibo’s Golcharran Chulai delivered a standout bowling performance, claiming five wickets for 18 runs. However, Demerara’s bowlers responded with equal ferocity. Neeran Bani took 4 for 16 and Jayden Dowlin 3 for 9, restricting Essequibo to 73 all out in 37.1 overs and sealing a 23-run victory for Demerara.
Meanwhile, at the Police Sports Club Ground, Berbice dominated the GCB Select XI with a commanding 178-run win. Batting first, Berbice posted 214 all out in 48.3 overs, thanks to a solid team effort led by Matthew Pottaya’s 40 off 44 balls. Rampersaud Ramnauth and Ari Kadir contributed 23 runs each, while Damion Cecil added 20. The Select XI’s Parmeshwar Ram impressed with the ball, taking 5 for 37.
In reply, the Select XI faltered dramatically, bowled out for a mere 36 runs in 16.4 overs. Jonathan Mentore was the only batsman to reach double figures with 13. The Berbice attack, spearheaded by Salim Khan (4 for 15), Matthew Pottaya (3 for 4), and Sanjay Algoo (2 for 16), proved too much for the opposition.
The tournament continues with Berbice set to face Essequibo and Demerara taking on the Select XI in the next round of matches. As the competition intensifies, both Demerara and Berbice have set the pace in their quest for youth cricket supremacy.
