Cellink Berbice concluded another year as the number one County in Guyana when they comfortably retained their Pepsi/Carib T20 title against the Rest Team by nine wickets at the Guyana National Stadium last night.
Sewnarine Chattergoon notched up 61 (4×4, 2×6)in the one-sided affair to overhaul the Rest Team’s total of 108-9 in the match that was shortened to 18 overs due to rain. Berbice finished on 109-1 in 16.4 overs with Narsingh Deonarine providing the support with an unbeaten 30 from 32 balls.
Chattergoon played an array of strokes at the beginning while the usually aggressive Richard Ramdeen was subdued. He was eventually caught at midwicket by Eugene La Fleur, who took a low catch off Kellon Carmichael, the lone wicket taker for the Rest Team.
Chattergoon hit Eugene La Fleur for six over cover before posting their team’s 50 in 7.5 overs with a push in off-side. He also swept Deon Ferrier for six over square leg in his introductory over and followed up with helping a Gajanand Singh delivery to the third man boundary.
When rain stopped play in the 13th over Chattergoon was 53 with four fours and two sixes while Deonarine was on 19 and the score on 82-1. When they resumed the smooth sailing continued until the end to a tournament that was dotted with low scores.
When the Rest Team batted Shemroy Barrington got the team off the mark with a cut to the point boundary and followed up with a pull to the midwicket boundary off West Indies under-19 pacer Keon Joseph in the second over. Maxie De Jonge’s first scoring shot was a guide through the slip region for four as 14 runs came off that over.
Berbice opening bowler Esaun Crandon was getting the ball to move off the turf as he followed up his opening maiden over with two in his second. Barrington came out in a business-like mood and bowlers duly paid: Crandon was slog swept and then pulled for six off consecutive balls in the fifth over.
The sprinkling of spectators in the green stand also cheered when De Jonge slapped left arm orthodox Veerasammy Permaul to the third man boundary in the sixth over as both batsmen showed urgency in their running between the wicket.
However, Permaul got his revenge off the last ball of the over when De Jonge was caught by Joseph on the midwicket boundary for 11 to break a 49-run first wicket partnership. In the next over Barrington’s impulse was also his undoing and when he was caught and bowled by Deonarine, who had the lone hat-trick of the tournament, for 35 (3×4, 2×6) from 24 balls.
After a promising start the Rest Team lost Trevon Griffith for four when the score was 54.
The scoring rate slowed to a snail’s pace and then Andrew Lyght Jr. was bowled for four as he attempted a swipe off Bishoo, who shortly after removed Gajanand Singh caught at short extra cover Deonarine.
The slide continued when Permaul had Deon Ferrier jumping back on his wicket as Berbice slipped to 71-6 in the 12th over. Tens runs later impatience stepped in and Anthony Bramble hit one back to Permaul for a simple catch before his spin partner Bishoo had Anthony Bramble caught behind for three when the score was 83.
Carmichael brought up his team’s 100 off the last ball of the 17th over. He also hit the first boundary in that over after the fifth over when Barrington had hit Crandon for six. Carmichael was bowled on the last ball of the final over as his team declined to 108.
