Inter-County U-15: Berbice hold nerve to dethrone Demerara
SUMMARY: Demerara 83 (Nityanand Matura 17, Hemraj Harriprashad 13, Josh Alves 12; Sanjay Algoo 4-9, Shiv Harripersaud 2-15) lost to Berbice 88-8 (Salim Khan 22, Ramnauth Rampertab 17, Damion Cecil 11; Josh Alves 2-8, Sachin Balgobin 2-10, Hemraj Harriprashad 2-14) by two wickets
Berbice made it a perfect tournament when they dethroned Demerara to lift the Dave West Indian Imports Under-15 Inter-County 50-over title at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda, on Saturday.
What at the halfway stage seemed to be a walk in the park, with just 84 needed, materialised into a low-scoring cliff-hanger.
The formidable Berbice at one point were gift-wrapping the match to Demerara but held their nerves to stay unbeaten after four matches.
Man-of-the match Sanjay Algoo wrecked the former champions as his leg-spin produced figured superb figures of 4-9 in 4.5 overs while impressive seamer Shiv Harripersaud took 2-15.
Harripersaud got the vital wicket of the talented Ryan Latiff for just four and it kept being a constant fall of wickets until they were bundled out in 35.5 overs.
Vice-captain Nityanand Matura top-scored with 17 (2x4s) and the other meaningful contributions came from Hemraj Harriprashad (13) and Josh Alves (12).
Wayvell Allen got the vital wicket of Beebice’s captain Rampertab Ramnauth for just 17 then Harriprashad nipped out Zadeem Larose and Avishkar Persaud for single scores which left Berbice 32-3 in the 15th over.
Kevin Kirsten looked solid for 13 but he too succumbed to the pressure and when Algoo fell for just two, followed by Nyron Hicks first ball and Demerara were surging; Berbice were now 47-6 in the 22nd over.
It brought together the match-winning pair of Damion Cecil and Salim Khan who spent over 20 overs at the crease but most importantly added 35 which swung it back Berbice’s way.
They simply blocked and as confidence built, the shoulders opened and some eye-catching strokes came out. Cecil fell for 11 from 78 balls while Khan hit a solitary four in the 22 from 68 balls.
Matthew Pottaya (4*) ended the tension in 44.2 overs after both of the set batsmen fell in quick succession.
A Select National Under-15 squad will now play the Under-17 Inter-County tournament which commences Tuesday, after such tournament both national squads will be named.
