Not even two rain interruptions which took away 112 minutes play and caused the encounter to be reduced to a 39 overs-a-side affair could prevent Berbice from coming away with a three-wicket victory over Essequibo in their final round clash of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ El Dorado-sponsored Inter-County limited overs match at the Wales Community Centre ground yesterday.
Prior to the rain interruptions and an early lunch, Essequibo, who won the toss and elected to bat on a good wicket in sunny conditions, reached 154-9 from their 39 overs with Norman Fredericks leading the way with 56.
- Berbice middle-order batsman Homchand Pooran is beaten and bowled by Andrew Wong as wicketkeeper Wayne Osbourne and fielder Norman Fredericks, backing camaera rejoice. (Lawrence Fanfair photo)
Berbice, in reply, led by Homchand Pooran’s 31 and Delbert Hicks’ unbeaten 30 reached 160-7 from 38.5 overs.
The match was exciting from the very first over of the day when national all-rounder Esaun Crandon had opener Wayne Osborne (0) caught at mid on by former West Indies right-arm leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo off the third ball of the day.
It was soon 16-2 when national fast bowler Brendon Bess knocked back the off stump of Yogeshwar Lall (02).
But veteran Dinesh Joseph and Fredericks provided some entertainment for the crowd adding 32 runs for the third wicket before Joseph was caught at the wicket by Hicks attempting to cut at a short delivery on the off stump from Bess.
Essequibo at that stage was 48-3 in the 10th over before the first rain interruption.
Fredericks was joined by Mahase Richards (25) when play resumed and they added 45 runs for the fourth wicket divided by the second rain interruption which came at 11:32hrs.
Essequibo was then 87-3 from 20 overs with Fredericks on 22 and Richards 12.
When play resumed at 12:48 hrs, Fredericks, who was given a chance by West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon who failed to hold onto a thick outside edge at first slip off Crandon, continued to soldier on.
He lost Richards who was caught by Pooran at backward square leg but hit Nagamootoo over midwicket for six and brought up his 50 with another audacious hit, this time off right-arm leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.
He, however succumbed two balls later when he was stumped by Hicks off Nagamootoo.
Prior to his dismissal, Essequibo had lost the wickets of Nishaul Pooran (01) and Robert Moore (03) in their hunt for quick runs while Ryan Hercules (11) was run out by Deonarine and Andrew Wong (0) stumped by Hicks off a wide delivery from Nagamootoo.
Trevon Garraway (01*) and Andrew Williams (02*) ensured no other wickets fell for their team.
As he did the previous day against Demerara, Berbice captain Narsingh Deonarine came up trumps with the ball claiming 2-12 from eight overs while Bess supported with 2-29 and Nagamootoo 2-30.
Berbice was off to a disastrous start when Chattergoon (0) was caught by Andrew Wong off the second delivery bowled by Garraway while Deonarine, who opened his account by flicking Hercules to long leg, was adjudged lbw to Garraway in the third over (16-2).
National opener Royston Crandon (22) and Assad Fudadin (29) then shared a 38-run, third-wicket partnership that spanned 9.5 overs with Fudadin pulling Hercules to backward square leg for six whilst Crandon drove Moore exquisitely through the covers for four.
But Essequibo struck back with the wicket of Crandon who was caught at short extra cover by Garraway off Moore in the 14th over as he drove uppishly to a delivery pitched around middle and off stump.
Fudadin was joined by Homchand Pooran and together they added 35 runs for the fourth wicket.
Pooran hit Wong back over his head for six and followed that stroke with a sweetly-timed extra cover drive for four in successive overs.
Wong was to strike back.
He bowled Fudadin with a faster delivery and got rid of Pooran as the batsman pushed forward to a delivery that pitched and left him to leave Berbice on 107-5 in the 28th over.
Ranga Lachigadoo (13) and Hicks (30*) added 26 runs for the sixth wicket from five overs as Berbice started the final 10 overs needing 43 to win.
Berbice lost Lachigadoo who was run out as he attempted a sharp single and Nagamootoo who was caught by substitute Trevor Benn at long on off Garraway and needed 13 runs to win from the final two overs which was reduced to eight runs off the final over with three wickets in hand.
Crandon got a single to long off off the first delivery whilst Hicks scampered two off the next. He got another single to long off but a misfield by Fredericks give Crandon two easy runs off the fourth delivery leaving them to score two runs from two balls to seal the win.
And Crandon kept his nerve to hit Hercules inside out over extra cover for six to seal not only a nail biting finish for his team but a meeting with defending champions Demerara in the final under lights at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Friday.
Garraway ended with 3-25 from his eight overs whilst Wong chipped in with 2-33 and Moore 1-30.
