Defending champions Berbice overcame their biggest hurdle when they defeated arch-rivals Demerara by 32 runs in the second round of the Hand-in-Hand Under-19, 50-over Inter-county tournament at Everest Wednesday.
The win sets up a showdown in the final round with the National Select U-17 team who kept Essequibo winless. The Berbicians have accumulated 17.7 points, followed by Demerara with (9.7), Select U-17 (9.3) and Essequibo (0.3).
At Everest, the champs comfortably defended 185 which they made in 47.4 overs of the reduced 49-over match. Demerara could have only mustered 153-8 when their overs expired.
Openers Sachin Singh and Robin Williams, who produced a 72-run stand in the previous match against the U-17s, made three and one respectively.
Adrian Hinds (31) and Alphius Bookie (30) grafted for their runs. Combined they batted 29 overs, but the slow pace meant they left too much for the latter stage of the chase.
Skipper Ashmead Nedd made a brisk 19 (3x4s) from 20 balls until he fell to the short-ball trap to seamer Kevlon Anderson. Andrew Samaroo was next best with 18 (2x4s).
Anderson, who got the Man-of-the-Match award, ended with 3-38, and well supported by Nigel Deodat (2-11) and Leon Swamy (2-32).
Bebice’s total was built on several vital contributions from the top and lower-order. Opener Junior Sinclair continued his fine form, hitting 44 from 92 balls, striking five fours. Himself and captain Anderson added 59 for the second wicket; the skipper’s contribution was 28 (4x4s).
When Anderson fell in the 15th over, Berbice lost the upper hand by slipping to 99-5. Seon Glasgow and Swamy then cracked crucial knocks of 31 and 29 respectively which propped the respectable total given the conditions.
Pacer Qumar Torrington worked up some steam with the new ball to end with figures of 2-39, while Nedd took 2-36 and Bookie supported 2-13.
At Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda, Under-17s trumped Essequibo by 41 runs. In their rain-affected match, Essequibo crashed to 96 all out in 31.4 overs in pursuit of 138 from a maximum of 47 overs.
Leg-spinner Matthew Nandu created havoc with a five-wicket haul, despite a valiant effort from Jeremiah Scott who made 33 from 28 balls.
Kevin Christian and Lance Roberts gave some levels of support with 23 and 14 respectively. Apart from the exceptional bowling of Nandu, brilliant bowling came from Chandrapaul Ramraj (2-16), along with Romel Datterdeen, Andre Seepersaud and Ajay Gainda all of whom took one wicket each.
When U-17s batted their 135-8 was led by Seepersaud, who top scored with an unbeaten 38, while Mavendra Dindyal made a disciplined 32. Bowling for Essequibo, Amit Persaud and Mahesh Ramnarine each grabbed three wickets.
The third round of the tournament is scheduled for Friday (May 17) from 09:30h at the GCC ground, Bourda, where Demerara face Essequibo and at the Everest ground, where Select U-17 challenge Berbice.
