Permaul (87*), Kanhai (4-12) spur Corentyne to title

Feb 26, 2009 Sports

Acting GCB President Bissoon Singh (left) with the Corentyne District team after they beat Essequibo Islands Secondary in the final of the MOE, GCB under-15 National schools cricket competition yesterday at Providence.

By Sean Devers
Veerapen Permaul stroked an eye-catching unbeaten 87 while National under-15 left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai grabbed 4-15 to spur Corentyne District to an emphatic 112-run victory against Essequibo Islands Secondary in yesterday’s final of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) 50-overs National Schools under-15 cricket competition at the Guyana National Stadium.

Probably inspired by playing at a venue which last year became the region’s 10th Test venue, the left-handed Permaul stroked the ball with consummate ease on the lightening fast outfield and his delicate dabs behind point and disdainful drives over mid-off were hall marks of an entertaining innings which helped the Berbicians to 195-6 off 30 overs after they had elected to bat first in the rain affected match which began at 13:10 and was reduced by 20 overs per side.

Permaul, the younger brother of national left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, struck seven fours and an effortless six off spinner Moin Khan in his attractive 92-ball innings after arriving at the crease in the first over with Corentyne District on 3-1.
After Ahmad Khan removed Shailendra Shameer for a duck, Permaul and Karamchand Mohabali put together 68 for the second wicket on a ‘feather bed’ batting surface in sweltering heat before Mohabali fell to Zameer Khan at 71-2. He reached the boundary five times in his 40-ball 38.

Moin Khan then removed Rajendra Dasrat (16) in the 20th over at 108-3 before Meron Williams, who hit a run-a-ball 20, added 59 for the fourth wicket with Permaul who looks a bright prospect for the future.
With the Region six team hunting quick runs, Williams played across and was bowled at 167-4 by 12-year-old spinner Seunarine Oudit who also had Videsh Lall (1) stumped at 181-5.
Permaul, who confidently pounced on anything loose, stroked Khan to the long-on boundary to reach his fifty from 67 balls and celebrated with the game’s only six off the next ball and even the Leguan Secondary School students in the small crowd were enjoying the impressive batting exhibition.

Skipper Shawn Periera (5) was run out in the final over as Oudit who later batted with wicket-keeper’s pads since he was not much taller than the wicket, finished with 2-17.
The Essequibo Islanders came out with all guns blazing and although Ahmad Khan was run out for one at 1-1, Tulsiram Preamnauth (14) and Ricardo Adams counter-attacked the bowling before two wickets tumbled for no run to leave Essequibo Islands Secondary on 26-3.

When the talented Ricardo Adams (11) was run out at the non-striker’s end in hearth-breaking fashion after the ball was deflected by the bowler who dropped a return catch, the lads from Guyana’s second largest county were 28-4. Zaman, who thumped four fours in his 18-ball 30-run cameo, threw his bat at almost everything and a pick-up flick from outside off stump off pacer Jamal Jarvis brought back memories of Sir Viv Richards as the ball reached the square-leg boundary like a tracer bullet.
Vishal Masedas (8) offered some support before he was leg before to Kanhai’s first ball at 61-5 and when Zaman was run out nine runs later after the 50 was posted in seven overs, the completion of victory was just a formality for a Corentyne side which included nine players from the Berbice 18-man under-15 Inter-County squad.

Paul Williams (12) offered some fight before the pint-size Kanhai held a stinging return catch to leave the score on 78-8 and four run outs in the innings failed to help the cause of the Region three line-up.
In addition to the Man-of-the-Match award, Permaul received a bat for being voted the best batsman in the final, while Adams (best fielder) and Kanhai (best bowler) also collected bats at the presentation ceremony.