France and Heeralall steer D’Edward to title

D’EDWARD SPORTS Club are the 2014 Hand-in-Hand Insurance second division 40 overs cricket champions in the West Berbice area, thanks firstly to a devastating spell of medium pace bowling from left-armer Christian France and then a commanding innings from skipper Jaipaul Heeralall which helped them conquer Hopetown United in the final, played last Monday.

In the match at the Cotton Tree Die Hard ground, Hopetown United won the toss and took first strike and were soon 30 for 2 after 6 overs.
France was introduced into the attack and immediately he made an impact, picking up five consecutive wickets on his way to ending with 5 for 32, which saw Hopetown United slump to 70 for 7 in the 16th over, before they were bowled out for 92 off 18.4 overs, with Devendra Singh supporting France with his 2 for 10.
In reply, D’Edward began shakily with pacer Derrick Cadogan picking up two early wickets to leave them at 17 for 3.
However, the hard-hitting Heeralall came to the crease and tore apart the attack, featuring in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 76 with Mahadeo Persaud, to take his team home by seven wickets, with Heeralall ending unbeaten on 50 (9×4, 1×6) and Persaud 16.
Cadogan ended with 2 for 42 while France was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match and at the presentation ceremony which followed, Anil Beharry, Hubern Evans and Shabeer Baksh, all executive members of the Berbice Cricket Board, thanked the sponsors for their continued investment in West Berbice cricket.
Cash incentives and trophies valued over $100 000 were up for grabs and Beharry said while the West Berbice Cricket Association does little or nothing for cricket in the area, the BCB will continue to do so adding that the giant insurance company has played a part in the betterment of lives of the people in the area.