Defending nation-wide Neal and Massy champions Albion Community Centre advanced to the national semi-final of the 2007 competition when they defeated West Berbice by nine wickets yesterday at the Bush Lot ground in their semi final encounter.
West Berbice got off to a promising start after winning the toss and deciding to take first strike. Openers Artley Bailey, and Ralph Ogle who top scored with 32, posted 28 for the first wicket before Bailey went for four.
Berbice wicket-keeper/ batsman Kwesi Mentore quickly followed Bailey as he failed to trouble the scorers to leave his team precariously perched on 29-2.
Ogle and Leroy Bristol then came together to add 32 for the third wicket, before right arm leg-spinner Davendra Bishu struck. Bishu took four successive wickets to leave West Berbice tottering on 85-6 after being 61-2 at one stage. They were eventually bowled out for 123 in 39.5 overs with Bishu taking 4-15 from eight overs. He received support from captain Narsingh Deonarine who took 3-13 from 6.5 overs.
Albion, in reply, were given a start of 56 runs off nine overs by Doodnauth Lallbeharry and the diminutive 15-year-old Berbice Under-17 captain Harrinarine Chattergoon, younger brother of Guyana’s opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon.
Chattergoon fell for 10, but Deonarine joined Lallbeharry, who was used as a make-shift opener and together they saw Albion home to their target of 125-1 in just 19.3 overs. Lallbeharry was unbeaten on 69 with ten fours and one six whilst Deonarine counted three fours and one six in his 25 not out.
Across at Albion, Rose Hall Town Windies Sports Bar defeated Bermine by four wickets to also advance to the national semi-finals. Bermine won the toss and made 154-8 off their 40 overs after being rocked back by some excellent fast bowling from Esaun Crandon who took three early wickets to leave Bermine on 41-3.
But some resilient batting from Anthony D’ Andrade (62 with five fours and one six)and Eugene La Fleur (30 with two fours) saw some 76 runs added for the fourth wicket.
They received valuable assistance from Dane Benny who was the only other batsman to get into double figures with 12. Bowling for Rose Hall, Crandon ended with 3-19 whilst his brother Royston 2-29 and Troy Matheison 2-32 were the principal wicket-takers.
Rose Hall in reply lost Renwick Batson to the very first ball of their innings, bowled by Jeremy Gordon.
They, however, received steady and worthwhile contributions of 51 (five fours and two sixes) from Royston Crandon and Assad Fudadin, who carried over his form from the recent Inter County tournament to make 34.
Khemraj Mahadeo chipped in with 30 as Rose hall Town Windies Sports bar team eventually reached 155-6 in 34 overs.
Bowling for Bermine, Kellon Henry took 3-44 and Gordon 2-32 from seven and nine overs respectively. Albion and Rose Hall will now meet in the Berbice finals to determine the County’s champion and runners up on the October 14 at a venue to be named.
