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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fended off a race-long challenge from the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to win the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Dutchman’s fourth consecutive victory at Suzuka was his first of the year and moves him to within one point of Norris at the head of the drivers’ championship.

Verstappen’s drive was cool under intense pressure, with rarely more than two seconds between him and Norris, and founded on a quite brilliant pole position lap on Saturday.

McLaren had feared that the Red Bull would be difficult to pass if Verstappen held the lead at the start, and so it proved.

The post Verstappen fends off Norris to win in Japan appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) have finally ended their long pursuit of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) First-Division 50-over title, securing a dominant 100-run victory over Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) at Bourda on Saturday.

Visibly elated, DCC captain Christopher Barnwell declared the win a significant milestone, ending a drought that stretched back to 2011.

He emphasised that the victory not only added another trophy to the club’s already impressive collection, but also cemented DCC’s status as the most dominant First-Division side in the GCA.

DCC’s victory was built on a solid batting foundation as they posted a competitive 227 all out in 44.5 overs, with Brandon Jaikaran anchoring the innings with a composed 53 (3x4s) from 92 balls.

Crucial contributions also came from Christopher Barnwell (43 *off 28 balls), Jonathan Van Lange (39), and Sachin Singh (31).

GCC’s Devon Lord produced a spirited bowling display, taking 4-27, which included a remarkable three wickets in one over to end the DCC innings.

He was well supported by Yeudistir Persaud (2-30) and Krsna Singh (1-33).

However, GCC’s batting response faltered under pressure, compounded by a tricky wicket. They struggled to build partnerships, ultimately collapsing to 127 all out in 29.1 overs.

Thaddeus Lovell provided a lone resistance with a blistering 47 off 42 balls, while Navindra Persaud (26) and Deonarine Seegobin (12) offered some brief resistance.

DCC’s bowling attack proved too potent, dismantling the GCC innings with disciplined performances.

Ezekiel Wilson led the charge with 3-20, supported by Daniel Mootoo (2-22), Jonathan Van Lange (2-25), and Steven Sankar (2-29).

PHOTOS: https://www.facebook.com/newsroomgy/posts/pfbid02H8bZ4zmM8raXaQKCkzz7gtU8vQL54r99MAKe8wAjYE3Qs57tBjWyrfrg6hFqSDPKl

FULL SCORECARD: https://cricclubs.com/GeorgetownCricketAssociation/fullScorecard.do?matchId=412&clubId=21478

The post DCC overpower GCC by 100 runs to lift GCA/Pepsi 50-Over title appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyana Harpy Eagles and Leeward Islands Hurricanes played out a draw at Warner Park, setting up a tantalising final-round showdown with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force for the 2025 West Indies Championship title.

The drawn result sets up a highly anticipated final-round clash between the Harpy Eagles and the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, with the championship title on the line.

Harpy Eagles have a slender 6.2-point advantage over the Red Force heading into the final round, which will be played at Queen’s Park Oval from April 9.

The Red Force will hope the home advantage will prove decisive while defending the champions, who aim to remain unbeaten this season.

On Saturday, resuming their second innings on 381-4 on the final day, the Harpy Eagles batted on to 490-9 in 160.1 overs before declaring, setting the Hurricanes a target of 349 for victory.

Captain Tevin Imlach added 20 to his overnight 103, while Kevin Sinclair contributed a valuable 61, having resumed on 31.

Hurricanes’ left-arm pacer Javier Spencer claimed an impressive 5-77 from 25 overs.

In their chase, the Hurricanes reached 147-3 in 50 overs before the match was declared a draw.

Mikyle Louis continued his strong form, scoring 61 from 101 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Opening partner Kadeem Henry made 36.

Veerasammy Permaul took 2-27 from 18 overs.

FULL SCORECARD: https://matchcentre.windiescricket.com/match/24f2e475-76ca-44d2-9115-ef693e11ff3d/4

Below are the summarised scores from the other matches:

At Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Jamaica Scorpions 372 all out from 111.5 overs (Javelle Glenn 140*, Abhijai Mansingh 67, Jermaine Blackwood 61; Joshua James 3-40, Khary Pierre 3-87) & 187 all out from 57.2 overs (Brandon King 89, Abhijai Mansingh 27*; Bryan Charles 2-82, Khary Pierre 3-43, Shannon Gabriel 2-28) beat Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 171 all out from 44.2 overs (Joshua DaSilva 86, Terrance Hinds 29; Marquino Mindley 3-37, Abhijai Mansingh 3-41, Ojay Shields 2-32) & 165 all out from 37 overs (Bryan Charles 28, Cephas Cooper 24, Jason Mohammed 23; Brad Barnes 4-19, Odean Smith 3-19, Abhijai Mansingh 2-27) by 223 runs

At Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground: Combined Campuses and Colleges 238 from 79 overs (Shaqkere Parris 52, Kyle Corbin 48, Johann Jeremiah 47; Joshua Bishop 6-78) & 395-8 declared from 108 overs overs (Johann Jeremiah 107, Shaqkere Parris 56, Damel Evelyn 47; Kelvin Pitman 3-70, Jediah Blades 2-79) vs. West Indies Academy 316 from 79.2 overs (Teddy Bishop 99, Mbeki Joseph 65, Joshua Bishop 26; Chemar Holder 4-81, Jaden Edmund 2-38, Romario Greaves 2-69) & 6-1 from 3.2 overs. Match drawn

At Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium: Barbados Pride 198 all out from 54.5 overs from 54.5 overs (Matthew Forde 43, Kyle Mayers 40; Keon Gaston 6-52, Gilon Tyson 3-49) & 307-8 from 77.1 overs (Shayne Moseley 109, Kyle Mayers 70, Matthew Fordr 66*, Jonathan Drakes 35; Kenneth Dember 4-95, Ryan John 2-58) beat Windward Islands Volcanoes 186 all out from 49.3 overs (Sunil Ambris 110; Matthew Forde 2-19, Ramon Simmonds 2-32, Jomel Warrican 2-45, Dominic Drakes 2-48) & 316 all out from 89.1 overs (Kavem Hodge 99, Alick Athanaze 78, Shadrack Descarte 50; Ramon Simmonds 4-47, Jair McAllister 2-35) by two wickets

The post FOUR-DAY: Harpy Eagles, Hurricanes draw sets stage for thrilling finale appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Georgetown and East Coast took an early lead in the run for championship honours in the Demerara Cricket Board’s Inter-Association Under-19, 50-over competition, which commenced on Saturday at two venues in the county.

At the Transport Sports Club in the city, Georgetown flattened East Bank by 191 runs, while over at the Meten-Meer-Zorg ground, East Coast prevailed by six wickets over home side West Demerara.

Georgetown, led by half-centuries from Riyad Latif, his brother Ryan Latif and Jayden Dowlin, powered to a commanding 328-9 from 50 overs, the highest total of the day.

Player-of-the-Match Riyad Latif missed out on a hundred, falling for 94 with two deliveries remaining in the innings. He faced 77 balls and counted five fours and five sixes.

Ryan Latif struck five fours and two sixes in 71 off 82 and the in-form Dowlin, son of former Guyana and West Indies Test and ODI batsman, made 60 off 70 (7x4s, 3x6s).

Opener Shiloh Adams set Georgetown on the way to the winning total, hitting six fours and six in a quickfire 35 off 19. Dave Mohabir chipped in with 19 off 15 (2x4s, 1×6).

Skipper Deonarine Dindial took a five-wicket haul for East Bank (Photo: News Room/Akeem Greene/April 5, 2025)

Deonarine Dindial, the captain of East Bank, was the standout bowler, taking 5-49 off 10 overs, while Altaf Rahim claimed 2-39 off eight.

Rocked by a fiery opening burst from speedster Wavell Allen, East Bank slipped to 12-3 and from then it was just a matter of them minimising the margin of defeat.

Wavell Allen was destructive with the new ball for Georgetown (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/April 5, 2025)

East Bank folded for 137 from 29.2 overs with Allen taking 4-22 from six impressive overs.

John Persaud, Renaldo Grenville, Feyaad Leakraj, Dave Mohabir and Dowlin had one each.

Dovind Ducan made a topscore of 42 off 40 (3x4s, 2x6s) and Devin Roopnarine scored 28 off 17 (7x4s).

Joshua Budhram (17) and Dilshan Latchman (10) were the only other players to get to a double figure score.

Vickash Wilkinson (left) and Moin Persaud steered East Coast to victory

At Meten-Meer-Zorg, East Coast got to their target of 109 against West Demerara, coasting to 111-4 from 19.2 overs.

National Under-17 wicketkeeper batsman Vickash Wilkinson led the chase with 44 (6x4s, 1×6) and Moin Persaud made 42 (5x4s, 2x6s).

Bowling for West Demerara, Navendra Sankar took 3-38 off six overs and Udesh Seetaram 1-29 from 5.2.

Batting first, West Demerara made 108 all out from 37.4 overs with Player-of-the-Match Nityanand Mathura taking 3-27 off eight overs.

Player-of-the-Match Nityanand Mathura (right) receives his trophy from Avishkar Ramgobin of the Demerara Cricket Board

Neeran Bani, Suresh Sugrim, Tyriq Walters, Alex Datterdeen, Munesh Bacchan and Saif Ragbeer had a wicket each.

Sachin Balgobin with 24 (2x4s, 1×6), Joshua Kisshundial 16 (2x4s) and Sankar 14 were the leading scorers for West Demerara.

Second round games are set for Sunday (April 6) with East Coast having home advantage against East Bank at the Better Hope ground and West Demerara hosting Upper Demerara at Meten-Meer-Zorg.

Bowl off time is 09:30h.

The post Comfortable wins for Georgetown and East Coast in DCB Inter-Assoc. U-19 appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Essequibo started the Guyana Cricket Board’s Female Inter-County T20 competition with a statement of intent on Saturday, beating Demerara by seven wickets at the La Bonne Intention ground, East Coast Demerara.

Led by standout performances from Tremaine Marks and Yonette Welcome, the ‘ladies in yellow’ stunned the home side in a one-sided affair to kickstart the 2025 tournament.

Marks copped the Player-of-the-Match award for her 2-12 and topscore of 31, as Essequibo reached 90-3 from 14.5 overs in response to Demerara’s 86-7 from the allotted 20 overs.

Tremaine Marks (right) receives the Player-of-the-Match trophy from Dr. Neibert Blair, who was making her debut as a Match Referee (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/April 5, 2025)

Opener Marks faced 26 balls and struck six fours, while Welcome finished off the game with an entertaining 24 not out off 22 balls (3x4s).

Skipper Laurene Williams was on 14 off 32 (1×4) when victory was achieved, while Kumarie Persaud (seven) and Varuni Pitamber (two) were the other batters dismissed.

Bowling for Demerara, Nyia Latchman, Chelsea Latiff and captain Kaysia Schultz picked up a wicket each.

The Essequibo players and management staff give thanks after their victory at the LBI ground (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/April 5, 2025)

When Demerara batted, Marks was supported by Cyanna Retemiah, who bagged 2-24, while Pitamber (1-10), Persaud (1-13) and Welcome (1-25) also chipped in.

Opener Naomi Barkoye topscored with 22 off 30 (4x4s) and Latchman made 16 off 21 (1×4). They were the only players into double-figures, with extras being 13.

That Demerara were at one stage 40-1 in the ninth over meant they spilled the opportunity to get a much larger total, as Essequibo came back admirably in the second half of the innings.

The competition continues on Sunday with Essequibo facing up to Berbice, while on Monday, Demerara and Berbice will square off in the final round.

Bowl-off time is 13:00h with all matches at the LBI ground.

The post Female Inter-County T20: Marks, Welcome lead Essequibo to victory over Demerara appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full release from the Guyana Revenue Authority: 

April 05, 2025: At 1.39 pm today, Justice Gino Persaud granted an Order temporarily restraining the Guyana Revenue Authority and their servants and/or agents from detaining and seizing the following vehicles:

1. Toyota Landcruiser PAB 3000
2. Toyota Landcruiser PAB 4000
3. Lamborghini Aventador PZZ 4000
4. Ferrari 488 PAD 5000.

At a further hearing at 3:30 pm the learned Judge further extended the Order until Thursday April 10th, 2025, within which time the GRA must file responses to Mr.
Mohamed’s Application for a Judicial review and a full Injunction.

Accordingly, the Revenue Authority will continue to act in accordance with the Order of the Honourable Court and the laws administered. Officers of the Authority were instructed to discontinue its operations aimed at the possession of the said vehicles for the taxes owed and breaches to the remigrant agreements) pending the decision of the learned Judge.
Seizure and possession of vehicles for taxes and breaches to remigrant and duty-free agreements are nothing new. Matter of fact, hundreds (100’s) of such cases are carried out yearly when there are breaches by re-migrants, public servants, breaches to Investment Agreements and even when Tax Exempt Agencies and Diplomats do not abide by the agreements by which such vehicles are entered free of or subject to reduced duty. This particular activity results in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax collections on an annual basis.

The GRA administers the laws in a fair and consistent manner, regardless of who the taxpayer may be. In the cases in question, the Authority by letters and email on three occasions over one month invited the Mohameds to make arrangements to satisfy its debts to the Authority. The Authority further intimated to them of the alternative actions for such breaches, should the taxes due not be settled or satisfactory arrangements be made to do so. They failed to initiate any discourse hence the action carried out by the Authority.

The Authority has irrefutable evidence of the breaches for the action taken, and the understated values) of the other vehicles, and will vigorously defend the said cases presently before the Court.

The post Court order granted to temporarily restrict GRA from seizing luxury vehicles  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Jofra Archer took three wickets to help Rajasthan Royals beat Punjab Kings by 50 runs and secure a second successive victory in the Indian Premier League.

Defending 206, England international Archer bowled Punjab opener Priyansh Arya with the first ball of the chase – a fine delivery that hit the top of the left-hander’s off stump.

Archer was then hit for two fours by in-form Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer but bowled the India international as he stepped to leg and tried to thrash the last ball of the opening over.

With the win secured and 56 runs still needed, Archer returned to bowl the last and took his third wicket by having Arshdeep Singh caught at extra cover.

The 30-year-old’s final figures – 3-25 from four overs – represent his best return in this year’s IPL and he was named player of the match.

He was hit for 0-76 in the Royals’ opening match, the worst figures in IPL history, and followed with 0-33 in a defeat by Kolkata Knight Riders.

But 1-13 from three overs against Chennai Super Kings, including a wicket maiden with the opening over, showed promise – and he backed up that success against Punjab, hitting 94mph at one stage.

“The beginning of the tournament, games like that happen,” Archer said. “Most importantly I am happy to contribute to a team win.

“You have to understand you will be lucky in some circumstances and other times a batter may get ahead of you. Everyone puts in the hard yards.

“Every day is not going to be a great day but with the good days you have to enjoy them.”

Archer was named the IPL’s Most Valuable Player in 2020 but that was before his series of back and elbow injuries which have dogged his recent career.

Capitals beat CSK; Fleming has “no idea” if Dhoni is retiring

Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming says he has “no idea” if veteran captain MS Dhoni is set to retire but says the 43-year-old is “still going strong”.

Iconic former India and CSK skipper Dhoni, who famously led his country to the World Cup title in 2011, is playing his 18th Indian Premier League season but in a bit-part role.

His parents were attendance as he played in Saturday’s 25-run defeat by Delhi Capitals, leading to online speculation the wicketkeeper could retire.

“I’m just enjoying working with him still,” New Zealander Fleming said.

“He’s still going strong. I don’t even ask these days.”

Dhoni retired from India duty in 2020, having played 90 Tests, 350 one-day internationals and 98 T20s.

He hit the winning runs in India’s 2011 victory at home and also led his side to wins in the 2007 T20 world title and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Since then he has continued to play for CSK in the IPL and led them to the title for a fifth time in 2023.

Chennai’s home defeat by Delhi was their third in four matches this season, however Dhoni ended 30 not out from 26 balls in their chase of 184 as his side ended well short on 158-5.

Once one of the game’s great finishers, Dhoni came in at number seven – two places higher than he batted earlier in the tournament in defeat by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

After that match, Fleming said he “can’t bat 10 overs” because “his knees aren’t what they used to be”. (BBC)

The post Saturday wins for Royals and Capitals in IPL 2025 appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Was the lap that put Max Verstappen on pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix the best of his career?

The Red Bull driver himself certainly thought it was up there.

“It’s difficult,” Verstappen said. “I mean, I’ve had some really nice ones also in other places. But I think if you look at how our season started, even during this weekend… yeah, it’s very unexpected, I would say. And I think that makes it probably a very special one.”

His Red Bull team were stunned. And so were McLaren.

Verstappen had not looked as if he was in contention for pole at any point of the weekend until the final lap of qualifying at Suzuka.

If McLaren had a rival, it had looked until then as if it would most likely be George Russell.

The four-time champion was struggling with the balance of his Red Bull throughout the practice sessions.

The team was making change after change to the car to try to make the driver happier. But on the first runs in the final qualifying session, he was still more than 0.2 seconds slower than the quickest McLaren, at that time Oscar Piastri.

But then Verstappen did something special. Really special.

“The last lap,” he said, “I was like: ‘Well, I’m just going to not try and feel comfortable – just send it in and see what we get.

“It’s very rare, of course, that a lap like that then can stick, but this time it worked well.”

Where, exactly, had he “sent it” and hoped for the best?

“Exit (Turn) One,” he said. “Into Two, Six, Seven, Eight and then Spoon (Curve). Those places I was like: ‘Well, I hope it’s going to stick.’ But it did.”

In the end, Lando Norris was the McLaren driver who ended up next best. The Briton, who had made a mistake at Turn Seven on his first lap, turned it on for his second attempt, improving by 0.2secs over his previous best lap, and snuck ahead of Piastri. But it was not enough to stop Verstappen’s genius.

“You’ve got to credit something when it’s a lap that good,” Norris said, “which he must have done, you know?”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella added: “It looked like we were on the way to pole position. Lando managed to improve significantly on his second set. But with Max, I have stopped being surprised.

“He is such an incredible driver and for me this is one of the many cases in which we have to just acknowledge and say: ‘Hats off to Max.’” (BBC)

 

The post ‘Very rare’ Verstappen lap stuns Red Bull and McLaren appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Police Officers on Friday found 880 rounds of .22 ammunition at a house in Buxton Library Road, East Coast Demerara.

Police Headquarters said the ranks were at the time responding to a report of alleged threats related to domestic violence. They proceeded to the home of the suspect, a 26-year-old security officer, and met the suspect’s 22-year-old wife, who is also a security officer.

On arrival at the suspect’s home in Buxton Library Road, checks were conducted but he was not at home and could not be contacted. Based on certain information, a search was conducted, which revealed two small bottles containing what appeared to be .22 rounds of ammunition.

The ranks took possession of the ammunition, which was transported to the Vigilance Police Station. The bottles were processed for latent prints in the presence of the suspect’s wife. Thereafter, the ammunition was counted, amounting to 880 rounds.

The ammunition was photographed and lodged. Statements were obtained from the suspect’s wife. Checks were made in the area for the suspect, but he has not been located yet. Investigations are in progress.

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Mohandai Persaud, a 54-year-old resident of Lusignan Pasture, East Coast Demerara, died on Friday after she was struck by a lorry.

Police Headquarters reported that Persaud attempted to cross the Lusignan Public Road in front of a lorry (#GAC 7708) that was by the traffic light.

As the traffic light signal changed from red to green and the traffic began to move off, Persaud attempted to cross the road from north to south and walked into the path of the motor lorry, which collided with her.

She fell onto the road surface and the left front wheel of the lorry ran over her. She was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit, where she was seen and examined by a Doctor, who pronounced her dead.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on the lorry driver, and no trace of alcohol was found on his breath. The driver remains in Police custody and is assisting with the investigation.

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