New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne win
New Amsterdam/Canje crushed West Berbice by 229 runs when the second annual Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/Poonai’s Pharmacy Under-13 Inter-zone tournament bowled off on Sunday.
Berbice under-15 opener Shimron Hetmyer blasted the first century of this year’s tournament, 103 not-out (12×4). The tournament was held to select promising under-13 players for the BCB’s under-15 team and for the Elite Junior Coaching Programme.
New Amsterdam/Canje batted first after winning the toss and rattled up an imposing 168 with Hetmyer top-scoring with 53 (7 x 4) in the first innings. Pacer Grisean Grant took 6-43 (10 overs) while J Angus claimed 2-12 from his six overs. In response, West Berbice were dismissed for a meagre 44 in 12 overs with only Parmanand Ramchand making 12. Leon Andrews was destructive, returning figures of 6-6 from three overs while Kassim Khan chipped in with 2-15.
With an imposing first innings lead of 124 runs the visitors did not enforce the follow on and batted a second time. It was in the second innings that Hetmyer stroked 103 not-out as New Amsterdam/Canje reached 158-1 declared in 26 overs. Keirre Henry supported Hetmyer with 43 in an opening stand of 148. Needing to score 282 for victory in 90 minutes, West Berbice were dismissed for 53 with only Titus Webster (12) and Winston Joseph (10) reaching double figures. Hetmyer completed a dream match by taking four wickets for three runs while Andrews took 2-6 to end with match figures of 8-12.
Lower Corentyne also defeated Upper Corentyne by 10 wickets at the Area ‘H’ ground in Rose Hall. Lower Corentyne reached 109 all-out after winning the toss and batting first. Tyrone Pooranauth top-scored with 37 (5×4) before being run out and Brandon Prashad scored 20. Bowling for Upper Corentyne medium pacer Vadanand Sugrim had bowling figures of 7-15.
Upper Corentyne in their first innings were dismissed for 54 in 20 overs with only Marvin Deochand (17) reaching double figures as left arm spinner Joshua Harrichand grabbed 4-4 (five overs) and skipper Daniel Lewis 3-5 (six overs) spun webs around the batsmen.
Batting a second time with a deficit of 55 runs Upper Corentyne fared a little better by reaching 90 all-out as Jameal Jackman 18 not-out, Deon Esau 14 and Kelford Ryne reached double figures. Lewis 4-22 and Harrichand’s 3-10 were the pick of the bowlers.
Needing to score 36 for an outright win, Lower Corentyne reached 38 without loss as openers Jameson Anderson (17) and Devendra Latchana (13) batted with ease to see their team home with a 10-wicket victory.
Lower Corentyne will now clash with New Amsterdam/Canje at the same ground in the finals while West Berbice will tackle Upper Corentyne at the Port Mourant ground for third place at a date to be set by the BCB.