Defending champions of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/Spready’s Bakery Under-19 Inter-club 50-overs competition, Rose Hall Town Pepsi and Albion have advanced to the final after getting past their opponents in the semi-finals last Saturday.
Rose Hall held its nerve to defeat Tucber Park by 15 runs in the first semi-final while Albion claimed an easy 128-run victory over arch rivals Port Mourant in the other semi-final.
Two-time defending champions, Rose Hall, playing in front of a large home crowd at the Area ‘H’ Ground, was led to victory by their spinning trio of Dominic Rikhi, captain, Loyydel Lewis and Shawn Pereira.
Batting first after winning the toss, Rose Hall Town Pepsi was given a solid opening stand of 35 by Rikhi and Hemant Kalloo in 6.3 overs before Kalloo was caught and bowled by off spinner Joemal La Fleur for seven.
Rikhi and national Under-15 player Parmanand Narine then featured in a crucial 49-run third wicket partnership before Rikhi was caught on the mid-wicket boundary off left arm spinner Charles Sulker for a well played 47.
Solid contributions from Pereira, 22, and Lewis, 21, eventually led Rose Hall Town Pepsi to 151 all out in 43 overs as the last four wickets fell for just six runs.
Bowling for Tucber Park, Sulker claimed three wickets for 16 runs off 10 overs while Kelvin Leitch took 3-28 off eight overs.
In reply the visitors were rocked backed by a double strike from Lewis and were 20 for 2 in the seventh over.
The aggressive Tregon Henry was then brilliantly caught and bowled by Rikhi for 23 at 32 for 3, but a solid fourth wicket stand of 53 between La Fleur and the exciting Romario De Jonge brought Tucber Park back into the match.
However after the loss of more wickets, Romario De Jonge single handedly fought to keep his team in the fight before being last out for a polished 40 as Tucber Park finished on 136 all out in 40.3 overs.
Rikhi took two wickets for 28 runs from 9.2 overs, Loyydel Lewis three for 17 from eight overs and Pereira 4 for 42 from 10 overs.
Also on Saturday at the Albion Community Centre Ground, a fine all round performance from Albion and national Under-19 player Harrinarine Chattergoon led his team to victory.
The highly talented Chattergoon stroked an attractive 36 and then returned with the ball to claim 4 wickets for 11 runs with his off spin.
Batting first after winning the toss, Albion reached 192 for 9 off their 50 overs after being at 154 for 3 in the 41st over.
Useful contributions from Kandasammy Surujnarine 60 and Verapen Permaul 53, led Albion to their formidable final score as they lost wickets in the last seven overs in their bid to up the scoring rate.
Bowling for Port Mourant, Sasenarine Ernest claimed 3 wickets for 30 runs from 10 overs and Bhojnarine Persaud 2 for 24 from 10 overs.
In reply, Port Mourant lost opener Joshua Ramsammy bowled by David Latcha at 12 for 1 in the fourth over and never recovered as they were shot out for 64 all out in 34 overs. Only opener, Mahendra Veerasammy reached double figures for Port Mourant with 17.
Supporting Chattergoon with the ball was national Under-15 left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie with figures of 10-3-13-4.
Albion and Rose Hall Town Pepsi will contest the final on Sunday at a venue to be named by the BCB.
