Everest Cricket Club emerged champions of the Dave West Indian Imports Independence Challenge Cup 40-over match by beating the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club by eight wickets on Sunday.
Playing at their Camp and Carifesta Avenue-based home under scorching sunshine, Everest won the toss and inserted the Berbice side who were bowled out for 202 in 39.1 overs. Everest responded with 205 for the loss of three in 31.3 overs.
It was a showcasing of national talents as fast-bowling all-rounder, Clinton Pestano collected the best figures of 3-24 while Guyana Amazon Warriors assistant coach, Saheed Mohammed rolled back the years to return 3-27. Amazon Warriors under-23 player, Junior Sinclair also got among the wickets, claiming 3-32 while Nial Smith snatched 1-31.
For Albion, skipper, Veerasammy Permaul top scored with 93 from 76 balls. He hammered six sixes and four boundaries during his onslaught before being trapped leg before wicket to Sinclair.
After coming in with his side 27 for three, the left-hander shared a 143-run partnership with Sewnarine Chattergoon who made 36 from 61 balls and hitting two boundaries along the way.
Extras had the next best tally with 36 while Demetri Cameron was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 13. In the chase, young guns, Sinclair and Matthew Nandu, who will also turn out for the Amazon Warriors added 71 for the opening partnership with Nandu working his way to 62 from 76 balls. He struck one six and four fours before Permaul had him trapped leg before wicket.
Sinclair on the other hand went on to make 45 from 35 balls after smashing three sixes and four fours but he too was trapped leg before wicket to a left-arm spinner, this time it was Gourav Ramesh who was the bowler.
Nandu, who represented West Indies in the recent Under-19 World Cup, also shared a vital 65-run stand with his captain, Akshaya Persaud who made a-ball-a-run 31 before being removed by Permaul (2-34).
Pestano and Troy Gonsalves returned to get their side over the line with unbeaten cameos of 28 and 23 runs respectively.
