The jointly sponsored Ministry of Education / National Sports Commission / Guyana Cricket Board / Guyana Teachers Union Secondary School Under-15 40 overs-a side cricket competition continued in the New Amsterdam / Canje and Corentyne Districts, at the Inter-branch stage in Berbice.
New Amsterdam defeated Canje by 67 runs in their game which was played at the Rose Hall ground in Canje. Winning the toss and batting first, New Amsterdam ran into early trouble at 10 – 2 in the second over, but Jamal Henry, who had scored a century and a half-century during the Inter-school stages, was joined by Linden Austin and together they put on an even hundred partnership for the 3rd wicket from 18 overs.
Even though they fell in quick succession, Austin for 43 and Henry (42), the rest of the batting chipped in to help New Amsterdam reach 180-7 from their 40 overs, against the bowling of Orlando Tanner who claimed 2-46.
When Canje replied their top order fared even worse than their opponents, to be shakily placed on 8-3 as NA fast bowlers delivered a mean and torrid opening spell.
But Canje recovered through a fourth wicket partnership worth 25 runs, between Brandon Balkissoon and Totaram Sooknanan (28) with the latter featuring in a 43 runs fifth wicket partnership with Quacy Kendall.
Canje lost Sooknanan’s at 76 – 5 and despite Quacy Kendall’s 23, their innings folded for 113 in 36.2 overs. Bowling for New Amsterdam, Martin Weatherspoon took 3-6, whilst left arm spinner Steffon Pilgrim finished with 3 – 14.
Over at Whim, Lower Corentyne came out the victors by 74 runs over Central Corentyne.
Invited to take first strike, Lower Corentyne managed to score 158 before they were bowled out in 38 overs, thanks to Berbice Under-15 cricketer Shawn Perrreira’s unbeaten 44, which stabilized the innings.
Merron Williams made 24 as Central Corentyne’s off spinner Videsh Lall took 3 -23 and fast bowler Carlon Crawford 2 -18.
Central Corentyne faltered badly against the spin of Lower Corentyne when they replied and where dismissed for 84 in 28.3 overs, with Lall returning with the bat to top score with 21.
Shailendra Shameer, an off spinner got 3 – 9 and received support from left arm spinners Gudakesh Motie (2-13) and Merron Williams (2-7).
