Albion, Achievers reach semi-finals

Respective wins from Albion Community Centre and Achievers saw the two teams advancing to the semi-finals of the 2013 Tenelec Inc. Under-17 cricket competition which recently resumed in Berbice last weekend.

At Albion, Albion Community Centre won the toss and sent in Blairmont Community Centre to take first strike who were then scuttled out for a paltry 36 in their first innings with Asif Ally (3-6), Kevendra Persaud (3-7) and Balchand Baldeo (2-8) the chief wicket takers.

Albion’s first innings response was led by the former U-17 player Baldeo who scored an unbeaten 112, while Guyana U-15 batsman Adrian Sukhwa was not out on 83 as their team reached 200 without loss.

Strangely, Sukhwa was unable to register his first century neither did Albion get the chance to increase their lead as Blairmont Community Centre, probably daunted by the enormity of their task to even draw the match, failed to show up for the second day’s play.

The competition committee of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is expected to have a disciplinary meeting with Blairmont.

In the other quarter final played at the No.5 Ground in West Berbice Achievers defeated Police by 47 runs with a day to spare. Winning the toss and taking first strike, Achievers were arrested for 123 in their first innings by U-19 trio of Leon Andrews (5-77), Clifton Lindee (3-23) and Tyrell Peters (2-21).

Police in their response were then ironically given the handcuffs by their opponents as Grisean Grant (3-25) and Osbert Gain (2-3) shot the lawmen down for a measly 82 in their first innings. With a first innings lead of 41, Achievers batted a second time and made 104 for 6 declared with Grant top scoring with 30 and Titus Webster 26. Andrews took 2 for 36 for Police.

Police set a target of 145 for a come from behind outright win, could only muster 97 all out in their second innings with Andrews (41) offering resistance. Randy Wade (5-3) and Osbert Gain (3-9) were the wicket takers.