For Young Warriors Cricket Club and Blairmont, it’s all to play for with spots in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Banks Beer, two-day, first division semi-final on the line in this weekend’s final round.
The Zone A match-up between Blairmont and Young Warriors will be one of the featured matches when it gets underway at Cumberland with the winner through to the semi-final.
Young Warriors have not played to their full potential but with Linden Austin, Suresh Dhanai, Alex Algoo, Trevon Stanislaus and Ricardo Ramdehol in the mix, the side can pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat.
Austin told this publication on the eve of the showdown that Young Warriors are prepared to come out on top and they know what is at stake.
Their opposition, Blairmont, is a youthful side guided by the experienced Shabeer Baksh who knows how to get the best out of the up-and-coming players such as Seon Glasgow, Javid Karim, Marvan Prashad and Nigel Deodat.
Over the bridge, West Berbice will host Tucber Park who enter as favourites. West Berbice have not played at their best and, with the absence of Keon Joseph, the weakened side will look to Leon Andrews, Shamal Angel and Keyron Joseph to pull them through.
Tucber Park will be without the services of key players Romario Shepherd and Nial Smith who are on West Indies and Guyana duties respectively. However, with Garfield Benjamin, Leon Swamy, Anthony D’Andrade and Kwesi Mickle among the ranks, they will back their chances of coming out on top.
Port Mourant and Rose Hall Canje will clash in a virtual dead-rubber but will look to end the competition on a high when they go to battle at Port Mourant.
Rose Hall Canje has shown progress but will need their players to step up if they are to combat a depleted Port Mourant.
The hosts have not lived up to the reputation the club has built over the years, fielding an inexperienced side headed by West Indies Under-15 batsman, Rampertab Ramnauth along with Demetri Cameron, Joshua Ramsammy and Salim Khan.
The result was humiliating defeats most notably after being bowled out twice in one day against Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolts.
Contrastingly, Thunderbolts and Albion have already booked their spot in the semis but will take the fight to each other at the Area H ground.
Thunderbolts will not have Clinton Pestano, Kevlon Anderson and Kevin Sinclair but with a vast array of talented players such as Eon Hooper, Shawn Perreira, Delbert Hicks, Jonathan Rampersaud and the Sinclair siblings, Keon, Jason and Junior, their side still looks imposing.
Meanwhile, Albion will feel the blunt of the Regional Four-Day tournament playing concurrently since Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo and Anthony Bramble are with the national side.
However, Gudakesh Motie and Kelvin Umroa will have points to prove and lead the spin department along with Kandasammy Surjunarine and Adrian Sukwah with the bat. Action bowls off from 10.00 hours today.
