An unbeaten 54 from number three batsman Eon Hooper led the Berbice A Team to a comfortable eight wicket victory over the Berbice 2011 Preparatory Under-19 team at the Area H ground last weekend.
The match was organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Special Events Committee to ensure that the A Team have adequate practice for their upcoming Georgetown trip. The match was also part of the Board’s preparation for the under-19 team’s 2011 season.
The under-19 team won the toss and batted first and reached 111 for seven in their allotted 20 overs with national player Dominic Rikhi scoring 20, Shailendra Shameer 23 and Shailendra Hardyal 16 not out.
Bowling for the A Team off spinners Hooper returned figures of 2-6 and Krisendat Ramoo 2-11; Keon Joseph and Steve Latcha had a wicket apiece.
In reply the A Team lost Anthony Bramble caught by Shawn Perreira off medium pacer Hardyal for one in the second over before Harrinarine Chattergoon and Hooper added 85 for the second wicket. Chattergoon was eventually bowled by the first ball from left arm spinner Waqar Hassan for a well played 39 (4×4, 1×6) when the score was 92.
Hooper, who hit eight fours and a six, and Ranga Lachigadoo Latchana then took the team home to victory in the 14th over with Latchana being left not out on 10. Hardyal ended with 1-17 from two overs and Hassan 1-13 from three overs.
After the game, Chairman of the Special Events Committee Hilbert Foster announced that the board, from September, will be organising numerous matches and coaching sessions for the county’s under-15 and under-19 teams to ensure that the best possible teams for the junior Inter-county tournaments are selected.
Foster also disclosed that the BCB believes in early preparation as was evident when the county dominated the Digicel 20/20 and DJ Stress tournaments.
The A Team will clash with the Demerara under-23 team for the Colin Wiltshire Memorial Cup while the BCB will host the Demerara team the following week for the Leslie Amsterdam Memorial Cup.