By Calvin Roberts
Canje Secondary and Skeldon High have advanced to the semi- finals of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club/Kool Kidz- sponsored inter-secondary schools under-19 twenty20 cricket competition, after scoring contrasting victories over their quarterfinal opponents last Friday.
At the Area ‘H’ ground, Canje took first strike after being asked to do so by Port Mourant New Junior High (PMNJH) and reached 89-9 off their 20 overs, with opener Steve Mohammed scoring a patient 32 that included two fours from the 46 balls he faced while Deon Cadogan offered support with 12.
Jamal Brusche took 4-8 bowling for PMNJH, who were then held to 83-7 when their overs expired with Berbice under-15 all rounder Lionel Lewis top scoring with 13. Rohan Sookram with 12 and Berbice under-15 leg spinner Gudakesh Motie with 11 were the other batsmen to get into double figures for PMNJH as Terrence Sookram took 3-10 bowling for Canje.
At the Skeldon Community Centre ground, Skeldon inflicted a humiliating 61 runs victory over Tagore High School.
Skeldon took first strike and were bowled out for 87 from 18.5 overs. National under-15 medium pacer Clinton Pestano top scored with 26 while Marvin Harvey offered good support in making 18.
M. Azad took 3-13 bowling for Tagore High who were then skittled out for a meagre 26 with only Keon Ross getting into double figures with 11. Pestano (4-18), Harvey (3-1) and Neil Profitt (3-20) did the damage to the Tagore High batting.
Meanwhile, following an upheld appeal by J.C. Chandisingh to the competitions committee of the organizers, claiming their opponents Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary played an overaged player in their first round clash, a rematch was ordered which saw the latter triumphing by four wickets.
Batting first, J. C. Chandisingh were dismissed for 82 from 19.4 overs with Shiv Shameer hitting 20 that was decorated with two fours and Surendra Kissoonlall 15.
Bowling for CCHS, Berbice leg spinner Shawn Pereira took 3-4 while Damien Branco (2-10) and Veerapen Permaul (2-12) offered support.
CCSS then reached 83-6 from 18.3 with opener Keyon James hitting an undefeated 39 and Ravindra Narinedat 11. Bowling for JCCSS Shameer returned to claim 2-16 and Lloyden Lewis 2-8.
In the remaining quarterfinals set for today, Corentyne Comprehensive will take on Winifred Gaskin Secondary at the Area ‘H’ ground and New Amsterdam Multilateral and Berbice High School will clash at the Canje ground. The semifinals are scheduled for Friday.
