Rain determines semi-final spots

Rain and not performance determained which teams would advance to the semi-finals of the President’s Cup limited overs competition after all four matches were washed out yesterday.

The Bourda ground yesterday after being drenched by early morning showers (Orlando Charles photo)
The Bourda ground yesterday after being drenched by early morning showers (Orlando Charles photo)

Matches scheduled for the Enmore, Everest, Uitvlugt and Bourda cricket grounds were called off due to the flooding of the outfield after heavy showers during the night and early yesterday morning.

Yesterday’s washed out games make a total of seven matches lost to the weather in two days after three  second- round matches were abandoned on Friday.

Only the Guyana and Barbados encounter which was staged at the Albion Commuinty Devlopment Ground in Berbice on Friday was completed.

Guyana won that match by seven wickets and as a result topped Zone B with nine points gained from two wins. They had defeated the Leeward Islands in the opening game on Wednesday.

Guyana will oppose the Combined Campuses and Colleges team in the semi-final.
Trinidad and Tobago, with a win over Jamaica in their opening game, topped Group A with seven points.
The Trinidadians gained a bonus point in their win against Jamaica and two points from their washed out encounters against the Windward Islands on Friday and yesterday’s game against the CCC team.

Also through to the semi-finals are Barbados who finished second in Zone `B’ but defeated the U-19s in their opening encounter.
They ended on five points.

First vice-resident of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Bissoondial Singh yesterday expressed his disappointment at the way things turned out especially since keen competition was expected in the tournament. He said that it was unfortunate also because fans wanted to see quality cricket and more especially the Guyana team who has played unbeaten in their two matches. Coach of the Guyana team Rabindranauth Seeram said that the team was confident going into the semi-finals adding that they will be using today and tomorrow to practice.

He said that there will be no complacency going into Tuesday’s game.
In tomorrow’s first semi-final match zone ‘A’ winners Trinidad and Tobago will take on Zone B runner up Barbados while on Tuesday Zone B winners Guyana will clash with Zone ‘A’ second place team Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. Both semi-finals and finals that will be held on Thursday will be day/night fixtures that will begin at 1.30 pm.