Half centuries from national Under-19 players, Kevin Sinclair and Alex Algoo ensured their respective teams, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets and Young Warriors Cricket Club book their spots in the final of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Champion-of-Champions tournament.
Saturday’s play saw Rose Hall Town defeating Tucber Park Cricket Club by 41 runs at the Port Mourant Ground while Young Warriors held on for a one-run victory over hosts, Albion Cricket Club in the semi-finals.
In the first semi-final, Rose Hall Town took first strike, posting 194-6 from 40 overs overs while Tucber Park only managed 153 in 35.5 overs.
Sinclair opened the batting with Eon Hooper and the pair shared in a 48-run stand before Hooper departed for 12 in the 11th over, given out leg before wicket to Kwasie Mickle.
Sinclair shifted his game to a more aggressive form, blasting six boundaries and running the twos hard until he was undone by Mickle for 51.
Vidal Crandon carried on, punishing the bowling, taking four fours and a six on his way to 55 as the other batsmen chipped in with useful cameos.
Junior Sinclair (16) and Jonathan Rampersaud (18 not out) were pivotal to Rose Hall Town setting the target but the acceleration was halted by Shamar Joseph and Mickle who took 2-42 and 2-41 respectively. In reply, Malcolm Mickle (26), Garfield Benjamin (21) and Gevon Shultz (30) all got starts but failed to convert them into much bigger scores as Junior Sinclair returned with the ball to take 4-24.
Meanwhile in the second semi-final, after winning the toss, Young Warriors reached 209-8 from their allotted overs with Algoo carving seven fours and two sixes during his knock of 68.
Algoo shared an opening stand of 63 with Vishal Mohabir who made 23 with four boundaries. Young Warriors managed to reach the 200-run mark with support coming from Linden Austin (31 not out), Suresh Dhani (19 not out) and Trevon Stanislaus (19). Sharaz Ramcharan took 4-31 for Albion.
In reply, Ramcharran returned to pick the gaps during his innings of 64 consisting of three fours and two sixes while Ramesh Kasinath also stroked a half century, but was left stranded on 55 with the other batsmen struggling to keep their wickets. Only Kandasammy Surajnarine (34), Mahendra Chaitnarine (15) and David Latchya (14) reaching double figures.
Ishwar Singh bagged 5-18.
The two teams will face each other in the final on Saturday at the Cumberland Ground.
