The ladies from the Ancient County recorded their fifth consecutive limited overs title after defeating Demerara by 51 runs yesterday in the final of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior Inter-County tournament at the Lusignan Community Center Ground, East coast Demerara on Wednesday.
Berbice won the toss and decided to bat first after rain reduced the match to 32-overs-a-side and posted 131-3 in their allotted overs before bowling out the Demerara side for 81 in 24 overs.
After overnight showers, it took good work by groundsmen Steve Ramdass and Keon ‘Banga’ Franklyn who used the old technique of ‘burning the pitch’ to allow the match to go on.
When play commenced the Berbice opening pair of Shenita Grimmond and Melanie Henry added 50 runs from 68 balls before Grimmond pushed a quicker ball from Heema Singh, called for a single but found herself short of her crease and was run out for 30.
Ketana Mentore added just 10 runs before she became over ambitious and swiped at a delivery, missed and was stumped by Loshauna Toussaint.
West Indies player and skipper of the Berbice side Tremayne Smartt came to the crease but was unable to make the most of being dropped on eight.
She made 12 and was caught after she tried to bring up the team’s century with a four down the ground but instead picked out Cherry Ann Fraser.
Henry, who looked to anchor the innings, was given a life when on 20.
She went on to top score with 37 while Erva Giddings followed up her match winning 45 in the previous match with an explosive 19 to see her side to a respectable total.
Hassena Mohammed was the pick of the bowlers claiming 2-25 from seven overs while two of the Demerara fielders, Kaysia Schultz and Latoya Smith obtained injuries.
Schultz split the webbing on her hand while Smith was struck on the thumb trying to effect a run out.
In the chase, Demerara started off watchfully but lost Toussaint for three with the score on 10 to fast bowler Smartt.
Mandy Mangru, though, played responsibly, batting through the innings as Smartt ripped through the top order bowling her opposite number, Akaze Thompson and trapping Casey Charles leg before wicket for seven and three respectively.
Plaffiana Millington and Dian Prahalad took care of the middle order with one wicket each while Sherita Campbell made light work of the tail with 3-9 from her two overs.
Smartt was named the Player-of-the-Match, following up her batting with 3-13.
The competition now switches to T20 mode beginning tomorrow with the first match between Demerara and Essequibo to be played at the Everest Cricket Club ground from 10:00h.
