National players Esaun Crandon and Veerasammy Permaul were the stand out performers when the Berbice zone of the 2007 Neal and Massy national first-division, limited overs cricket competition got cracking with four first round matches.
At the Port Mourant Community Centre ground Crandon took 6-24 to help Rose Hall Town Courts rout the home team for 59 with Sameer Khan’s 21 the top score. Crandon took three early wickets as Port Mourant struggled to 39-5. They never recovered as former national Under-19 opening batsman Renwick Batson chipped in with 3-10 to help dismiss Port Mourant for the paltry total.
Rose Hall Town Courts then coasted to a 10-wicket victory with Batson crowning a fine all-round performance with an unbeaten 41. Delbert Hicks was not out on 17 as Rose Hall Town Courts reached 60 without loss in just nine overs.
Permaul, who had a satisfactory debut season for Guyana in this year’s Carib Beer Series, continued his fine showing with a five wicket haul to help Albion Community Centre demolish Scotsburg at the Albion Community Development Centre ground.
Batting first Scotsburg, 45-1 after 12 overs at one stage (the first wicket going via the run out route) lost their remaining nine wickets for only six runs in 7.2 overs in a sensational collapse.
Permaul grabbed 5-3 while Devendra Bishoo supported with 4-8.
Albion then rushed to an eight-wicket triumph with the Chattergoon brothers Ramnarine and national opening batsman Sewnarine putting on an opening stand of 35 leaving Narsingh Deonarine, who ended on 16 not out, to deliver the coup de grace. James Hart captured 2-6.
Unlike the first two matches which were routs, the match between national Twenty20 champions Young Warriors and Rose Hall Community Centre was a nail-biting affair which ended in a 15-run win for Young Warriors at the Rose Hall, Canje ground.
Batting first Farouk Hussain (60) and Waheid Edwards (59) put on 117 for the first wicket, and, after reaching 163-4 after 34 overs, Anil Beharry with a 19-ball 37 (two fours and three sixes) and Ishwar Singh with an unbeaten 25 saw Young Warriors to a healthy 216-4 off the allotted 40 overs. Daryl Naraine with 2-6 was the pick of the bowlers.
In reply, Rose Hall lost two early wickets but former Young Warriors’ player Balram Samaroo (37) in his first official game for Rose Hall added 84 for the third wicket with Sasenarine Sukhdeo (50).
However, they both fell in quick succession allowing for Sanjay Khan (34) and Jameel Blair (44) to bring their side back into contention with a partnership of 54 in only 5.4 overs. But left-arm spinner Beharry picked up three wickets for 32 runs while the wily veteran off-spinner Hubern Evans sent down a tidy spell and Rose Hall stuttered to 201-8 off their allotted overs. Deonarine Ramotar had 2-36.
And, at the Blairmont Community Centre ground, Bermine registered a comfortable six wicket win over the homesters with Anthony D’Andrade and Julian Moore leading the way.
Batting first Blairmont Community Centre were dismissed for 136 off 34 overs with Karamchand Bissoondial 45 and Horace Mc Donald, 31, the principal scorers.
Fast bowler Kellon Henry bagged 3-10 while Andrew Williams and Eugene La Fleur picked up two wickets each for two and 29 runs respectively.
Bermine, in reply, reached 137-4 with D’Andrade hitting the round’s highest score 69 not out. D’Andrade and Moore, who made 30, put on 77 for the fourth wicket.
Brendon Bess captured 2-32.
The competition continues on Saturday and Sunday with the second and third round matches.
