Albion Community Centre is the first team to reach the final of the 2011 Memorex/Leslie Amsterdam Memorial Under-17 Cricket Competition in Berbice after defeating No.70 Young Star by an innings and 79 runs in their semi-final encounter.
In the semi-final played at the No.70 Ground, No.70 Young Star lost the toss and were sent to take first strike and suffered a setback almost immediately after the Albion opening pacers, Kevendra Persaud and Berbice under-15 cricketer David Latchaya, each picked up two wickets to have them 16 for 4.
Akash Persaud (22) and Thameshwar (29) did well to hold up any further immediate slide by putting on 50 for the 5th wicket but after that Guyana under-19 left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai with the help of Latchaya, cleaned up the last six wickets for only 21 more runs. Motie ended with 5 for 22, Latchaya 4 for 28.
When Albion replied Balchan Baldeo and Shiwnarine Shrikissoon put on 43 for the first wicket before off spinner Mohamed Deochand picked up 2 quick wickets, including Shrikissoon for 12, to reach 45 for 2.
Baldeo was joined by Latchaya and the two of them proceeded to put on 74 for the third wicket before Latchaya became Deochand’s third victim going for 37 at 119 for 3.
Meanwhile, Baldeo who slammed 99 in the quarter-final against Blairmont Community Centre, continued and helped to push the score along until he fell for 100 this time at 175 for 6. His knock included seven fours and one six.
Albion eventually declared at 186 for 5. Bowling for Young Star, off spinner Thameshwar Kumar took 3 for 24 while Deochand ended with 3 for 67.
Facing a first innings deficit of 99 runs, Young Star began their second innings confronted with Motie and Guyana under-15 all rounder Sharaz Mohamed bowling off spin opening the bowling. This they found to be a difficult proposition as almost immediately Motie picked up 3 wickets in his second over to leave them 5 for 3.
After Ramcharran took one, Motie snapped up the next three wickets to leave Young Star reeling at 12 for 7.
They did not get a chance to recover as the torment continued and Ramcharran struck twice and Motie one more time, as No.70 Young Star was bowled out for 20, the lowest score in the competition.
Motie ended with 7 for 12 from 6 overs to end with match bowling figures of 11 for 34 and a total of 39 wickets in the competition so far.
