Bermine created a major upset in Berbice cricket, when they defeated Berbice champions Albion Community Centre, to reach the Berbice final of the 2008 Neal and Massy first division 40 overs – a side cricket competition.
Contesting the first semi-final in the Ancient County last Sunday at the Cumberland Ground in Canje, they defeated Albion by 5 wickets, after Albion won the toss and made 151 from 39.3 overs, to which Bermine scored 153-5 from the same amount of overs.
When Albion batted, West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon (03) and Dudnauth Lallbeharry (56) started the innings cautiously, before former national Under-19 pacer Kellon Henry had Chattergoon caught for 3 in the seventh over at 23 for 1.
Former West Indies middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine (28) came in and he and Lallbeharry pushed the score along but after they had added 52 for the second wicket in 7.4 overs before national under-19 off spinner Stephen Latcha (3-27) had Lallbeharry caught off his first ball for a well played 56 (3 fours and 2 sixes).
Berbice middle order batsman Ranga Lachigadoo (12) and Deonarine then added 29 runs from seven overs, which best described the discipline in the Bermine bowling attack, before Latcha dismissed them both.
Off spinner Charles Shepherd removed national under-19 all rounder Jonathan Foo and national leg spinner Devendra Bishoo both without scoring, as Albion deteriorated from 104 for 2 in the 21st over to 109 for 6 in the 23rd over.
From that position and with Essequibo offspinner Andrew Williams picking up two wickets coupled with two run outs, Albion Community Centre could only reach151 all out in 39.3 overs despite some resilient batting from national under-15 Sharmindra Hardyal who made an unbeaten 21 against the bowling of Williams (2-16) and Shepherd (2-21) offered valuable support to Latcha.
When Bermine began their response, they were given the start they needed by the dominating former Berbice opening batsman Maxie De Jonge (42) and national under-15 batsman Jamally Odle (08) added 50 for the first wicket against the bowling of Deonarine and Chattergoon from 9.1 overs.
Guyana left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul bowled Odle whilst Bishoo accounted for De Jonge four overs later. Permaul struck in the following over after De Jonge’s dismissal, when the former national under-19 batsman Devon Clements was caught for three to leave Bermine perched on 67-3 in the 16th over. However, all was not lost for the eventual winners, as former Berbice under-19 batsman Dane Denny (37) and national under-19 captain Eugene La Fleur (39*) came to their rescue in a 71 run fourth wicket partnership before Permaul removed Denny, leaving Bermine well placed at 138 for 4.
Permaul struck again, this time removing Shepherd who was bowled, but by that time, it was all over bar the shouting for Albion, as La Fleur and Williams who was unbeaten on three, carried their team home with three balls to spare in the final over, as they ended on 153 for 5.
Permaul ended with 4-17 from seven overs of controlled unorthodox bowling. The second semi- final which will feature Port Mourant and Young Warriors is scheduled for Saturday at Port Mourant, with the winner meeting Bermine in the final the following day at a venue to be named.
