The Rose Hall Town Windies Sports Bar (RHTWSB) cricket team defeated Albion Sports Club (ASC) by 16 runs to crown themselves Berbice champions, when the final of that County’s Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) /Gafoors first division 20/20 competition was played at the Port Mourant Community Centre ground last Sunday.
Replying to RHTWSB’s 179-6 made from their 20 overs, ASC managed 163-8, despite an unbeaten 47 from national under-19 all-rounder Jonathan Foo which included two sixes off the final two deliveries of the match.
Asked to take first strike, RHTWSB were in an early spot of bother losing opener Renwick Batson for 12 in the second over.
Things became worse when national middle order batsman Assad Fudadin (00) was dismissed in the following over to leave the team on 18-2.
But brothers Esaun and Royston Crandon with 87 and 43 respectively, joined forces and added exactly 100 runs for the third wicket from 15 overs before Royston, who struck three fours whilst facing 36 deliveries, was caught by Veerasammy Permaul off Orvin Mangru (1-30).
Skipper Esaun Crandon continued to soldier on for his team, hitting right arm leg spinner Devendra Bishoo for four fours and three sixes.
All told he struck five sixes and six fours from 55 deliveries.
ASC eventually got the vital wicket of Esaun Crandon when he overbalanced after playing forward, and was run out by wicketkeeper Shastri Persaud, but not before he had took his team to a comfortable position of 144-4 in the 18th over.
Thanks to some gutsy hitting from Delbert Hicks (21) and André Percival (12), RHTWSB were able to score 35 runs from their final two overs.
They ended on 179-6 with Permaul taking 2-31 from four overs.
ASC in reply, quickly lost Imran Khan (08) who was caught by Khemraj Mahadeo off Batson (1-27).
But Narsingh Deonarine (46) and Doodnauth Lallbeharry (12) took the score to 41 before Lallbeharry was run out in the fifth over.
It was soon 87-5 as both Deonarine, who struck three fours and the same amount of sixes from his 24 deliveries, and Ranga Lachigadoo (08) were dismissed, following the early departure of Ramnarine Chattergoon (06).
However, Foo found a useful ally in Persaud (19) and they took the score to 118, before Persaud was caught by wicketkeeper Hicks off Royston Crandon (3-35).
That dismissal was followed by the loss of Bishoo (06) and Permaul and needing to score 31 runs to win from the final over, Foo found the task to be an herculean one and even though he struck the final two deliveries from Royston Crandon for maximums, it was not good enough to carry his team into the national semi finals.
After the win, skipper Esaun Crandon dedicated same to the team’s sponsor and proprietor of Windies Sports Bar David Burgess.
“He has been sponsoring us for the past two years, and it is only fitting that we dedicate this victory which is a stepping stone towards the national twenty20 title which eluded us last year, to him. We would like to say heartfelt thanks to Mr. Burgess, as we look forward to his continued support in the years ahead.”
