Rose Hall Community Centre (RHCC) resisted the arrest of Berbice Police Sports Club to romp to a 53-run victory in their replayed (originally rained out) preliminary round match in the 2007 Telenec Inc. 50 over first division competition at the Rose Hall Welfare ground to advance to the semi final.
RHCC won the toss and took first strike in a match reduced to 45 overs scored 179 thanks mainly to the efforts of their lower order batsmen after a sedate start. They were 27-3 in the 11th over before Sasenarine Sukhdeo, who scored a brilliant 92 the previous day in the Isaac Bissoon semi final, came to their rescue again forming valuable partnerships in the middle and lower orders.He first added 38 for the fourth wicket with Brijesh Jaipaul (10) and a further 42 for the fifth wicket with Totaram Seenanan (23).
Three quick wickets including that of Sukhdeo for a well played 48 (6x4s; 1×6) left RHCC precariously placed on 109-7 in the 28th over. Some robust hitting from Sean Jhetto (20), Rocky Beepat (22) and Rafik Kassim (20) helped propel RHCC to their final score as Kwesi Peters bagged 2-21 while Sean Warde 2-28 and Andel Doris 2-34 supported.
In reply, Berbice Police were bowled out for 126 in 34.4 overs despite being given a sound start by openers Zaheer Moakan and Jerry Heyliger who posted 48 from 5.2 overs.
Once Heyliger went to off spinner Daryl Narine for six and Moakan for 38 (3x4s; 2x6s) three overs later, it was all over bar the shouting for the lawmen who slipped to 83-5 in the 19th over. Pacer Vishal Mohabir dashed any hopes they had of claiming a come-from- behind-win by snapping up three quick wickets as they Lawmen were bowled them out for 126.
Mohabir who finished with 3-17, Romesh Munna (3-15) and Sean Jhetto 2-14, ensured that their team reached the semi finals where they join Albion Community Centre, Young Warriors and Scotsburg United without any controversy.
