Rose Hall Community Centre (RHCC) created a big upset when they defeated defending champion and pre-game favourite Albion Community Centre by 31 runs to advance to the final of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Isaac Bissoon three-day first-division cricket competition.
In a low-scoring affair played at the Albion Community Centre ground, the hosts, resuming on 19-1 in pursuit of the 200 made by the visitors, the previous weekend, crumbled for a paltry 154.
Despite some useful starts, Albion reached 65 before the second wicket fell mainly because of contributions of 40 from Berbice U-19 batsman Manoj Pooranauth and 35 from Guyana U-15 captain Harrinarine Chattergoon.
They then lost wickets at regular intervals and, from 89-2 slumped to 119-5 before being rescued by a 31-run sixth-wicket partnership between Veerasammy Permaul (29) and Sahadeo Somai which took the score to 150-6.
They then lost their last four wickets for the addition of only four runs to be all-out for 154.
Off-spinner Daryl Narine with 4-37 from nine overs was the main destroyer while pacer Rafik Kassim (3-53) and captain off spinner Romesh Munna 2-27 lent admirable support.
With a lead of 46, RHCC ended the second day on 17-2 and when play began on the final day, RHCC batting declined and they were bowled out for a pitiful 63 losing their last eight wickets for a meagre 46 runs.
The batsman had no answer to the left arm orthodox spinner Permaul 4-11 from 17 overs and Somai 4-19 from 12.
Albion, needing 108 to win, suffered a setback even before the second day’s play began as captain Ramnarine Chattergoon left the country and could not complete the game.
They performed miserably with the bat and when their innings closed on 77-9, they were still looking for 31 more runs for victory.
A total of 17 wickets fell for a mere 123 runs in the day’s play.
Albion had a bad start chasing the relatively small target losing wickets at regular intervals and were tottering on 16-4 at one stage.
A mini recovery from Pooranauth (18) and Sharmindra Hardyal added some respectability to the total as the pair posted 34 runs for the fifth wicket before Pooranauth was removed.
There was no resistance from the other batsmen following his demise and before one could say “Jack Rabbit,” Albion was looking to the heavens for an answer to their defeat whilst RHCC were celebrating wildly on the field.
Kassim was more destructive in the second innings than the first when he scalped 4-18 from 10 overs of hostile pace.
He received support from off spinner Sanjay Khan (3-28) and Jethu who took 2-12 with his left-arm spin.
The win placed RHCC into the final where they await the winner of the other semi-final encounter featuring last year’s runners-up Port Mourant Cricket Club and Young Warriors.
The ensuing match have to be replayed since rain interrupted the previous one with Port Mourant tottering on 37-4 in reply to Young Warriors’ 263 all-out on the second day which was actually the first game day as the original first day was washed out.
