STAG 50-Over: Sinclair, bowlers deliver title for Rose Hall Town

By Akeem Greene in Berbice

A compact half-century from Jason Sinclair and an all-round effort from the bowlers engineered Rose Hall Town Thunderbolt Flour to a 58-run victory over Tucber Park Cricket Club in the final of the Berbice Cricket Board’s Stag Beer sponsored First-Division 50-over tournament on Saturday.

At the Port Mourant Community Centre ground, Sinclair’s responsible 67 anchored Rose Hall to 192-8, which proved just to be enough despite a fightback from Tucber Park after a horrid start.

Sinclair struck just two fours on the expansive outfield, but was a ‘busy-body’ between the wickets on a pitch which seemed difficult for fluent stroke-play.

After his brother, Junior Sinclair, fell for just seven, he shared what proved to be crucial stands with Khemraj Mahadeo and Delbert Hicks.

Mahadeo made 27 (1×6) and assisted in moving the score from 12-1 in the sixth over to 75-2 in the 22nd over. Though the rate of scoring was not fast-paced, they laid a foundation for Hicks, who had more positive intent.

The size of the outfield meant boundaries were hard to come by, but the constants twos and threes kept Tucber Park pondering their next move.

Hicks managed to make a quick 22 (1×6) before he became Devon Clements’ second of six victims.

Clements’ off-spin seemed to have rattled Rose Hall’s middle and lower-order as wickets fell at regular intervals, which stymied any late assault. Keon Sinclair (14*) and Keith Simpson (18) added some urgency in the ‘death overs’ to take Rose Hall to a respectable total.

Fancying their chances at the interval, Tucber Park had a horror start, slipping to 32-6 in 10.2 overs. The pace of Sylus Tyndall and the guile of captain Eon Hooper wreaked havoc.

Take nothing away from Tyndall, who brought life a practically ‘dead’ pitch, and Hooper, who deceived most batsmen in flight, and too many rash shots brought the demise.

Clements had the best of score of 12 until Kwesi Mickle and Damion Vantull begun a brutal counter assault. In the next 11 overs, the duo added 67, with the left-handed Vantull smashing three fours and one massive six in a quick 36. The partnership had Hooper and his troops nervous as they seemed to have no answer.

While Vantull was muscling it, Mickle kept the strike ticking over. The former eventually fell, caught and bowled by Jonathan Rampersaud.

Mickle then kicked in overdrive and added 25 with Leon Swamy (11), but Swamy’s soft dismissal down to long-off proved to decisive, as they next two wickets fell in quick succession. Mickle was left unbeaten on an even half-century.

Berbice Cricket Board President Hilbert Foster thanked ANSA McAL Trading through the Stag Beer Brand for the continued support over the years.

He told the players that the Board has a host of other tournaments lined up which they should benefit from financially.

Rose Hall won $100,000, while Tucber Park took home half that amount.