By Delvon Mc Ewan
Berbice booked a place in the final of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter-County limited overs competition with a six wicket victory over Essequibo yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club Ground.
Berbice, who lost to arch-rival Demerara in the second round on Saturday, won the toss and opted to field, duly restricting the Cinderella County side to 163 all out in 46.3 overs before reaching 164-4 in 37.1 overs in reply.
Essequibo started poorly slipping to 6-3 before being further reduced to 46-5.
Kevon Boodie, the only batsman with a century in this year’s tournament after his record
breaking 217 against the national U19 team on Saturday, was first to be dismissed, leg before wicket to pacer Romario Shepherd off the first ball of the second over.
The Fredericks brothers followed shortly afterwards with Norman, who batted at number three, caught off the bowling of Shepherd while Royan, who opened the batting, was caught off the bowling of Keon ‘Buff and Roll’ Joseph.
Ricardo Adams (09) and Vijay Surujpaul (12), who was caught brilliantly by Seon Hetmyer at silly mid-off after pushing hard at a full pitched delivery from Veerasammy Permaul, became the next two wickets to fall.
However, Anthony Ifill (29) and Anthony Adams (40) rebuilt the innings, with a 38-run partnership which ended when Ifill was lbw to Narsingh Deonarine.
After Ifill’s dismissal, Egnauth Persaud, Essequibo’s top scorer with 45, joined Adams and the pair batted resolutely until Adams was caught on the long-on boundary hitting against the breeze.
Persaud batted dourly against the Berbice attack which comprised four first class bowlers. He faced 61 balls and struck three fours and three sixes. Joseph, Shepherd and Deonarine finished with three wickets each for Berbice while Permaul picked up the other wicket in an economical spell that read 10-5-13-1.
The Berbice openers batted slowly but surely and at the loss of their first wicket they already had 58 runs on the board. It was easy sailing for Berbice after such a good start as Man-of-the-Match Deonarine ensured Berbice accomplished their target with an unbeaten top score of 39.
Deonarine received support from national wicket keeper/batsman Anthony Bramble (38), Kandasammy Surujnarine (31), Devon Clements (23) and Jonathan Foo (17) while Rajiv Ivan remained unbeaten on three. Anthony Adams was the chief wicket-taker for Essequibo with 2-33 from his allotted 10 overs while Hemchand Persaud and Surujpaul took a wicket apiece.
Although Essequibo crashed out of the tournament at the round robin stage, so far they have both the leading run scorer and leading wicket taker in their side. Kevon Boodie is currently atop the runs chart with 261 runs from three innings while Anthony Adams is the leading wicket taker with 11 scalps from three matches.
The final will be played at the Albion Community Development Centre ground on Sunday between Berbice and Demerara.
