Under-23 male, 40-overs female tournaments get $500,000 joint sponsorship in Berbice

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) along with Peter Lewis of Associated Construction Service launched an Under-23 male cricket tournament and  a female limited-overs tournament last Saturday at State House, New Amsterdam.

Chairman of the Special Events Committee (SEC) of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, in a press release, disclosed that the joint sponsorship for the tournaments was $500,000 and would start as soon as the weather improves.

While the Under-23 tournament will be played among the 12 first division teams and will be used by the Junior Selection Committee to select the Berbice 2011 “A” Team for tours to Demerara and Essequibo, players have to be born on or after the 1st September, 1988 to play in the tournament which would serve as a nursery for the senior Berbice team.

Rondel Lewis, son of Peter Lewis, hands over sponsorship cheque to Berbice Cricket Board treasurer Anil Beharry left.

Last year’s tournament was won by the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets team.The female tournament will be known as the Millie Lewis Memorial Competition and will be played in memory of the parent of Peter Lewis  between Rose Hall Town Metro Female team and a combined New Amsterdam/ Canje team. The teams would play each thrice and the winner would be decided on a best of two basis, the release noted.Lewis, in brief remarks, described his sponsorship as a means of giving back to the county and its youths and called on all involved to make both tournaments a success.

The BCB also used the opportunity to donate $100,000 worth of clothing to Comforting Hearts Non Governmental Organsisation in New Amsterdam for its outreach programme.