Cornelia Ida Cricket Club (CI) and McGill Super Stars booked their spots in the final of the West Demerara Cricket Association/Beacon Café 50-over tournament following wins over Independence `A’ and All Youths respectively Sunday.
In the first semi-final at Joe Vieira Park, CI raced to 170 for five in 26.3 overs, responding to Independence’s 169 all out that came from 40.1 overs.
CI’s chase was engineered by a half century from their most consistent batsman in the tournament, Arshad Azim, who hammered half a dozen sixes and two fours on his way to 51 from 39 balls before retiring.
Azim shared in a 69-run partnership with his captain, Naveed Ali, who stroked three sixes and four fours on his way to 35 not out from 16 balls.
Also providing important cameos were Khellwan Tulcan (21), Richie Looknauth (14), Muhamad Wazidali (14) and Vaikash Dhaniram (13). Ceenauth Bisessar picked up two for 19 and was supported by Jagnarine Etwaroo (2-66).
Earlier, the hosts were kept at bay by Azim who collected three for 27 from his 10 overs and Ali who chipped in with two for eight from four overs.
Independence’s top order did not give their side the start they were looking for but the middle order provided their team with a respectable total due to the efforts of Mahendra Dhanpaul (27), Reaz Esau (25), Bisessar (25) and Ewart Samuels (20).
In the other semi-final at Wales Community Development Center, McGill romped to an eight-wicket victory.
Having won the toss and electing to bat, All Youths were bundled out for 64 in 25.4 overs as off-spinner, Travis Persaud, snatched six for 12 in 8.4 overs while his father, Sudesh, picked up two for nine from three overs. Rickey and Jagdesh Persaud both made 18 and stroked one boundary for All Youths.
In reply, Prahalad Singh blasted four sixes and three fours on his way to 45 not out while Diquan Murray made 12 to see McGill reach 69 for two in 8.3 overs.
CI and McGill will now face each other on Sunday at Wales.
