Future Warriors Tapeball: Massiah, St. Theresa’s book semi-final spots after dramatic day

Another zone and another defending champion has been eliminated before the semi-finals in the Future Warriors Tapeball for Primary Schools, powered by ExxonMobil Guyana.

The script of the Future Warriors Tapeball Championship continues to favour the underdogs and punish complacency. Just weeks after Demerara’s defending champions, Grove, tumbled in the quarter-finals, the Berbice Zone followed an identical narrative on Saturday.

Two-time champions Cropper Primary were ruthlessly eliminated from the tournament by a clinical Massiah Primary, highlighting a day of high-octane action at the Albion Sports Complex, featuring spectacular diving saves, athletic catches, and crisp cover drives.

Massiah Primary looked the part from the opening delivery. Their bowling attack, operating with remarkably polished, professional-like actions, completely choked Cropper’s vaunted batting line-up.

Abdul Khan was the chief destroyer, spearheading a disciplined tactical approach that restricted the defending champions to a paltry 48 for 7 in their allotted eight overs.

Khan’s two-over spell yielded a miserly 2 for 10, setting a template of control that Cropper simply could not break.

Khan then swapped ball for bat to seal a comprehensive nine-wicket victory. He anchor-slammed a rapid 16 off just 9 balls, punctuated by three boundaries, while Seeraj Laljit provided fluent support with 14.

Massiah cannibalised the target in a mere 4.5 overs, sending a clear warning shot to the rest of the field.

The day’s other quarter-finals offered similar bursts of individual brilliance. St. Theresa’s Primary booked their semi-final spot with a commanding 37-run win over Latchmansingh Primary.

Batting first, St. Theresa’s posted a formidable 74 for 5, propelled by a blistering 18-ball 31 from Elijah Bhandan, who cleared the ropes once alongside three boundaries.

In response, Latchmansingh’s chase never got off the ground, stifled by Keiron DeJonge’s exceptional spell of 2 for 5 from two overs, eventually sputtering out at 37 for 6.

Tain Primary pulled off an equally impressive, authoritative chase against New Market Primary. New Market posted what seemed a competitive 59 for 5 from nine overs, largely thanks to Tanesh Basdeo’s brisk 12 off eight balls.

However, their progress was constantly checked by Romel Mahadeo (2-5) and Arun Mahadeo (2-17). Tain made a mockery of the halfway score, hunting down the target in exactly six overs.

Nicholas Bristol was the undisputed star of the chase, smashing an unbeaten 34 off 21 balls, laced with two fours and three towering sixes, alongside an anchoring 12 from Adriel Chichester.

Meanwhile, Rose Hall Estate Primary navigated a low-scoring scrap against All Saints Primary. Precision bowling from Mario Ramsammy (3-10) and Timothy Chester (3-11) dismantled All Saints for just 42 in 8 overs.

Despite a spirited fightback from All Saints’ Kyden Springer, who claimed 2 for 12, Rose Hall Estate showed enough nerve to cross the line at 43 for 5 in 6.3 overs.

The semi-final line-up for Sunday morning promises high drama.  The impressive Massiah Primary will lock horns with Tain Primary at 10:00h, followed immediately by St. Theresa’s Primary and Rose Hall Estate Primary.

The Berbice Zone—comprising Belvedere, Cropper, Betsy Ground, Massiah, New Amsterdam, New Market, Sandvoort, Tain, Albion, St. Theresa’s, Fort Ordnance, Latchmansingh, All Saints, Sheet Anchor, Rose Hall Estate, and Cumberland—has served as the perfect canvas for a tournament designed to modernise grassroots cricket in Guyana.

To ensure a completely level playing field, tournament organisers FL Sport, in partnership with ExxonMobil Guyana, have removed all financial barriers by fully funding playing kits, bats, meals, and transport for every participating school.

The format is unashamedly modern: a high-octane, eight-overs-a-side knockout competition. In a progressive twist, teams have the flexibility to field mixed-gender XIs, intentionally integrating boys and girls on the same turf from a foundational level.

Yet, the tournament’s modernising ambitions extend well beyond the boundary rope. While regional winners will take home comprehensive equipment bags for their schools, the top four teams in each zone will also receive tablets.

The goal is distinctly analytical: teaching children the digital mechanics of online match scoring, fusing technology with play to cultivate an early understanding of modern cricket metrics.

To bridge the gap between aspiration and reality, active national cricketers are also being deployed throughout the tournament as team mentors, providing pupils with direct access to elite role models who can guide them through the game’s tactical nuances.

Admission remains free for the duration of the Berbice zone fixtures as the tournament continues its mission to spotlight the next generation of Guyanese cricketing talent.