It’s down to the final two.
The 2008 New Building Society Challenge second-division limited overs cricket competition, commenced with over 100 teams from practically all of the geographical zones of Berbice.
The competition will climax with final today at the Blairmont Community Development Centre ground, West Berbice.
It is a fitting venue as the two teams vying for supremacy, Hopetown and De Edward are both from West Berbice, a first for any Berbice-wide competition organised by the Berbice Cricket Board.
It will be difficult to determine which of two could start as favourites as they both played very well throughout the tournament to reach this stage, both unbeaten so far.
De Edward though, participating in Berbice Cricket for over 30 years, have some more experienced players then Hopetown who only resumed playing second division cricket two years ago.
Spearheading De Edward’s batting is former Berbice allrounder Eon Abel who has registered a century against Edinburgh in their play-off match and also has a half century.
Also there is the Blairmont first division hard-hitting opener Romain Boodram who also has a century under his belt. Also scoring half centuries in the competition were Derick Lalsa, Tony Ramanan, Lakraj Sookra and Mahadeo Persaud.
In the bowling department Abel has so far led the way with his off-spin, while he has been ably backed up by off-spinner Lalsa and medium pacers Marcus and Christian France, Navin Rampersaud and Tony Ramanan.
Hopetown of their part will be spearheaded by two cricketers who have done well at the first division level in the past for West Berbice – offspinning allrounder Kenje Sedoc who so far is having a low key tournament but could explode in the final and opening batsman Arthley Bailey who a half century under his belt.
Delon Wayne and Kelwin Bennett have both registered two half centuries each so far while Tyron Liverpool has one.
The bowling will be spearheaded by medium pacer Carwyn Wayne who has so far taken 20 wickets in the competition including a five-wicket haul in the quarter-finals. Other bowlers that De Edward will have to reckon with Emerson Benjamin, Kelwin Bennett, Steffon Adams, Claude Saul, Ruel Edwards and Ludwig Joseph.
Before the start of match, both teams will be introduced to representatives of new Building Society Ltd – Senior manager, Berbice Operations, Anil Beharry and Rosignol Branch manager Ameena Jagnarayan.
The umpires officiating will be Mahendra Singh and Zaheer Moakan with Roshan Moakan as the standby.
The match is scheduled to start at 11am.
Teams:
De Edward (from) Jaipaul Heeralall (Captain) Romain Boodram, Eon Abel, Derrick Lalsa, Tony Ramanan, Mahedeo Persaud, Lakraj Sookraj, Joel Singh, Rayan Ramana, Sham Ramana and Navin Rampersaud.
Hopetown (from) Kenje Sedoc (captain) Emerson Benjamin, Carwyn Wayne, Delon Wayne, Arthley Bailey, Steffon Adams, Ruel Edwards, Kerwin Blair, Ludwig Joseph, Marlon O’ Donoghue and Tyron Liverpool.