A brilliant century by national player Royston Crandon propelled Gizmos and Gadgets Rose Hall Town to an easy 74-run victory over West Berbice in the semi-finals of the 2010 Busta Champion of Champions Tournament at the Albion Community Centre Cricket (ACC) ground on Sunday. RHT will now meet defending champions, Young Warriors, in the final on a date and venue to be announced by the organizers.
On Sunday Young Warriors comfortably defeated Port Mourant by a 70-run margin at the Port Mourant Ground.
West Berbice won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat who made 248 – 6 in their 50 overs and then restricted West Berbice to 174.
Earlier, RHT openers Renwick Batson and Delbert Hicks added 23 for the first wicket before national pacer Keon Joseph had Batson caught at mid-on for six and then he removed Hicks; caught at mid wicket for 16 with the score on 31 – 2 in the seventh over.
Off spinner Carlton Nurse bowled Jason Sinclair for eight to leave the home team at 3 for 47 in the 13th over which lead to the experienced Assad Fudadin and Royston Crandon joining forces to add a crucial 70runs for the fourth wicket stand before Fudadin was run out for 46 (4×4) when off spinner Krisendat Ramoo diverged a powerful straight drive into the non striker stumps with Fudadin out of his crease.
National all rounder Esaun Crandon joined his brother Royston after Berbice Under-19 player Clinton Pestano was caught off Ramoo for just three runs changing the score to 119 – 5 in the 32nd over.
The Crandon brothers batted sensibly and added 107 runs in the 16 overs before Royston was bowled by Joseph for an even 100 runs at 226 for 6. Royston stroked five boundaries and four mighty sixes while Esaun batted to the end to be unbeaten on 50.
Joseph ended with 3 – 50 from nine overs while Carlton Nurse and Ramoo ended with one wicket each for West Berbice.
In reply, WB had a solid opening partnership of 66 off 16 overs from Arthley Bailey and Kwesi Mentore before national Under-15 captain Shawn Perreira dismissed Mentore for 22 and then off spinner Troy Mathieson bowled Bailey for a well played 35 at 73 for 2 in the 19th over. Wickets then began falling regularly for West Berbice as the Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets bowlers never allowed them to score freely. Jamal Reynolds 32, Steffon Adams 17, and Keith Fraser 20 all batted well but their efforts proved futile.
Off spinner Eon Hooper had figures of 4-27 from nine, Royston Crandon – 2 – 27 and Perreira bagged 2 – 40.
Over at the At the Port Mourant Ground, Young Warriors batted first and openers Richard Ramdeen and Maxie De Jonge added 92 in 21 overs before De Jonge gave his wicket away for 53 (1×6, 1×4) off the bowling of Rajendra Latcha.
Ramdeen (38) was dismissed for 38 at 96 for 2 in the next over but Berbice “A” player Seon Hetmyer (42) and Wajid Edwards (29) added 57 for the third wicket before Young Warriors lost their last eight wickets for 72 runs to be dismissed for 225 in 49.1 overs.
Farouk Hussain (16) and Balram Samaroo (21) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures as off spinners Devindra Thakurdeen 5 – 40 and Rajendra Bolo took 2 – 50.
Port Mourant were never in the hunt during their reply as they were unable to develop any meaningful partnership and were dismissed for 155 off 44 Overs.
Thakurdeen top scored with 22 while skipper Steven Latcha supported with 21 while Andre Percival (19) and Tony Mc Kenzie (16) got off to good starts but were soon after dismissed.
Farouk Hussain claimed 4 – 38 in just eight overs and Balram Samaroo 2- 13 from seven overs.
