Edinburgh Cricket Club became the latest team to reach the second round of the 2011 Ramcharitar Construction Services First Division limited overs knockout competition in Berbice after they defeated West Berbice by 37 runs in their first round encounter on Monday, after two previous postponements.
The game at the Edinburgh ground was reduced to a 47-overs-a-side affair due to a late start, and the home team won the toss and batted.
They immediately ran into the fiery pace of former West Indies Under-19 and national fast bowler Keon Joseph who picked up two wickets in his first over without a run on the board. However, Shafiq Khan and Zaheer Hussain put on 79 for the third wicket but veteran off-spinner Dennis Webster removed Hussain for 21 and Sasenarine Sukhdeo for four in quick succession, as their side slipped to 83 for 4.
Khan stood firm and proceeded to add 33 for the fifth wicket with Denny David before two more wickets fell to leg-spinner Andrew Dennis, reducing them to 117 for 6.
After another 16 runs were added, yet again two wickets fell very quickly, including the wicket of Khan for a well made 63 (eight fours) which left them at 134 for 8.
This time Edinburgh were rescued by a 53-run ninth-wicket stand between Yudrunauth Seepersaud (47 not out) and Seeram Seecoomar who was out with the last ball of the match for 23, seeing their team to 187 for 9 in their 47 overs.
Bowling for West Berbice Dennis took 2 for 16 from four overs, Keon Joseph 2 for 20 from six overs and Webster 2 for 27 from 10 overs. When West Berbice began their run chase they too started badly slumping to 16 for 2 with off-spinner Raid Ali picking up a wicket and the other batsman being run out.
Arthley Bailey and Krishnadat Ramoo staged a rescue act by putting on 44 for the third wicket but Ali struck three telling blows dismissing Ramoo for 30, Bailey for 21 and Parmanand Sukhra to reduce West Berbice to 76 for 5.
From there former Berbice wicket keeper/batsman Kwesi Mentore (27) and Keith Fraser (25) added 35 before the sixth wicket but with offspinner Sasenarine Sukhdeo picking up two key wickets, West Berbice were dismissed for 150 in 33 overs. Bowling for Edinburgh, Ali took 4 for 31 from 10 overs and Sukhdeo 2 for 25 from five overs.
Edinburgh will now clash with Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets in a second round match on Saturday at Rose Hall Town.
