Durant steers Berbice U-19s to victory over sloppy Essequibo in Inter-county T20
SUMMARY: Essequibo 90 all out from 16.4 overs (Latoya Williams 15, Ashanti Mohamed 14, Tremaine Marks 13; Crystal Durant 2-11, Daniela Hicks 2-15, Trisha Hardat 2-25) vs Berbice 91-5 from 15.3 overs (Crystal Durant 26*; Tremaine Marks 2-15)
By Avenash Ramzan
It is an established norm in sport that you win some, you lose some!
On Monday, in the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Under-19 Female Inter-county T20 competition, the success of Berbice was recorded in the annals of history.
That fact cannot be argued.
However, if one were to critically analyse what transpired at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground- whether by physical attendance or by just a glimpse of the scoresheet- a case could be made, and strongly so, that Essequibo gifted the game on a platter to their faltering opposition.
After an impressive four-wicket win over Demerara the previous day at the same venue, the Essequibians were cognizant that a victory over Berbice would seal the title for them.
They almost pulled it off, but lackadaisical cricket came in the way of what would have been a historic moment for the young ladies in yellow.
The Laurene Williams-led Essequibians had the tough task of defending the 90 all out they made after being inserted to take first strike on another heated day in the city.
Backed by a vociferous band of supporters beyond the boundary, Essequibo made early and significant inroads into Berbice batting, reducing the Ancient County side to 38-5 in the seventh over.
The impressive Tremaine Marks accounted for opener Tiea Isaacs (0) leg before and Denellie Lindee (3), stupendously caught by Latoya Williams, while Laurene Williams bowled Daniela Hicks (2), Qzed Sampson knocked back the stumps of Latchmi Mahadeo (2) and the prized wicket of skipper Realanna Grimmond (2) came via the run out route.
With the top half back in the pavilion and Berbice limping with 53 runs needed for victory, Essequibo had taken control of the match…but then it all went downhill!
The bowling suddenly became erratic, wicketkeeper Thaliah Hack had the most torrid time behind the stumps and the intensity that brought five wickets swiftly disappeared.
It was if the Essequibian lasses were desperately trying to avoid a second straight win.
That they conceded 50 extras (35 wides, 10 byes, three no-balls and two leg byes) spoke to the sloppiness that inexplicably enveloped their game.
From being firm favourites, they meekly surrendered, much to the dismay of their supporters at the venue.
In the midst of the chaos, opener Crystal Durant held her composure, batting to the end on 26 not out off 45 balls (1×4).
She needed someone at the other end to stay the course, and Vice-captain Trisha Hardat provided the support, facing 27 balls for an unbeaten six.
The pair forged an unbroken partnership of 53 to lift Berbice to victory at 91-5 from 15.3 overs.
Player-of-the-Match Durant earlier picked up 2-11 off 2.4 overs, Daniela Hicks 2-15 off two and Hardat 2-25 off four overs as Essequibo were routed for 90 in 16.4 overs.
Latoya Williams made 15 off 18 (1×4), Ashanti Mohamed 14 off 7 (3x4s) and Marks 13 off 21.
The three-round competition will wrap up on Tuesday with Berbice facing Demerara at the Malteenoes ground from 13:30h.
