Georgetown, Guyana - Demerara’s quest to cop the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter-county 50-over title ended in heartbreak as a gutsy Berbice unit produced a clinical display in fading lights to win by 10 runs in the final on Saturday at Albion.
After the game was reduced to 26 overs due to early morning rains, the hosts were first reduced to a decent total of 163 all out in 25.4 overs, but relied on a brilliant bowling display under pressure to stop the visitors at 153-9 in 26 overs in a nerve-wracking contest.
Earlier, Paul Wintz (3-40), Robin Bacchus (2-24), Steven Jacobs (2-31) and Raj Nanan (1-18) managed to restrict the Ancient County.
Berbice made a disastrous start after they were asked to bat first, losing Kandasammy Surujanrine (0), caught Trevon Griffith at first slip off pacer Paul Wintz from the third ball of the innings. Fellow opener Anthony Bramble and Devon Clements were quite sedate with both batsmen looking determined to get their eyes in against the new ball.
However, with Demerara skipper Christopher Barnwell opting for a pace/spin attack from the onset, left-arm spinner Nanan struck in his third over, trapping Bramble leg before wicket for 12.
After skipper Narsingh Deonarine and Clements (30) put together 34 runs for the third wicket, Jacobs accounted for the latter at 69-3.
Rajiv Ivan (10) was also dismissed by Jacobs, but Deonarine provided some semblance of resistance to the visitors attack and cracked a top score of 44, which included three fours and one six before he was dismissed.
Jonathan Foo (10), VeerasammyPermaul (12) and Gudakesh Motie (12) were the other batsmen to reached double digits before the innings came to a close.
In the run chase, the hosts’ bowlers bowled a tight line to contain the Demerara openers at less than six runs an over.
Andrew Lyght Jnr (17) and Trevon Griffith (44) were watchful in their approach picking up singles and twos instead of the usual flurry of boundaries.
Lyght Jnr, who was given a life off pacer Romario Shepherd, failed to capitalise on the opportunity, as
Shepherd got some much needed retribution when he disturbed the stumps of the right-hander.
Deonarine proved to be a handful on the gripping surface and removed Bacchus for 25 before Permaul uprooted the leg and off stumps of Barnwell.
Things got shoddier for the visitors with the lost of Griffith, Rajendra Chandrika (12), Shemroy Barrington (1) and Zaheer Mohamed (13).
With the lights fading, Demerara were still in search 34 runs off four overs, but Chanderpaul Hemraj (10), Steven Jacobs (1) failed to add any sort of contribution.
Requiring 23 off the last over, Wintz and Nanan were unable to cross the finishing line.
Permaul (3-32), Deonarine (2-23), Joseph (2-28) were the most successful bowlers for Berbice.
At the presentation ceremony, Essequibo opener Kevon Boodie (259 runs) won the award for the most runs in the tournament. Deonarine copped the best bowlers’ award with 10 wickets and also the Most Valuable Player award.
Demerara’s Shemroy Barrington won the best wicketkeeper award with opener Trevon Griffith being adjudged the best fielder in the tournament.
The players will now switch focus to the Four-Day version, which commences on September 18.
First Published In The Guyana Times.
