A responsible eight-wicket partnership between national player and coach Esuan Crandon and former national Under-19 all-rounder Loyydel Lewis led Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets (RHTG&G) to a hard fought two wicket win over arch rivals Albion in the final of the 2012 Busta Champion of Champions Tournament.
Playing in front of a colourful crowd at the Area “H” Ground both teams fought to the end before Clinton Pestano turned a delivery from Jonathan Foo through square leg for two to claim victory for the home team.
Heavy early morning showers forced the organizers to reduce the match to 40-overs-a-side and the RHTG&G team won the toss and elected to field. Albion opening pair of former West Indies player Sewnarine Chattergoon and Kandasammy Surujnarine added 55 in 10.4 overs before national allrounder Royston Crandon dismissed Chattergoon, brilliantly caught by Rajiv Ivan for 30. Kandasammy and Sharaz Ramcharran then put together 26 runs for the second wicket before Esuan Crandon held a sharp chance to dismiss Ramcharran for 10 off his younger brother Royston. The RHTG&G spinner helped restrict Albion to 140 all out from 33.3 overs as only Jonathan Foo reached double figures with 18 while Surujnarine fell for a well played 38 with three boundaries. Foo was severly tested with short pitched bowling from Clinton Pestano before holing out to long on off leg spinner Shawn Pereira who ended with 4-12.
Royston Crandon took 2 wickets for 23 runs; Eon Hooper 2 for 22 and Shailendra Shameer 2 for 7.
In reply, RHTG&G lost Dominique Rikhi run out for three and Renwick Batson bowled by Chattergoon for nine to find themselves 21 for 2 in the fourth over.
Delbert Hicks 27 and Rajiv Ivan (25) then added 30 for the third wicket before Hicks was trapped LBW by Devendra Bishoo. Ivan and Royston Crandon then joined forces to score 33 very important runs taking RHTG&G to 84 for 3 before Ivan, Crandon 21, Pereira 00 and Hooper 00 were all dismissed in quick succession to leave the home team shakily placed at 97 for 7 in the 20th over. Loyydel Lewis and Esuan Crandon however took over before Crandon was caught at first slip by Chattergoon off Foo with two runs left for victory. The level-headed Clinton Pestano then scored the two runs required to sparkle wild celebration among delighted Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets supporters.
Bishoo had bowling figures of 8-1-38-2 and Chattergoon 8-1-33-2.
At the presentation ceremony Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hailed the tournament as the best ever and highlighted the memorable moments which included centuries from Shimron Hetmyer and Bishoo, a tie semi-final match and an action packed final. Foster also expressed his delight at the massive crowd support for the tournament and stated that the game of cricket in Berbice has once again regained its popularity and the confidence of the general public. The veteran cricket administrator then expressed gratitude to Robert Selman and Shamiza Yadram of Guyana Beverage Company for their sponsorship of the tournament. Selman, General Manager of the Guyana Beverage Company expressed his satisfaction of the excellent organising of the tournament by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and the promotion of his Company’s products during the tournament.
President of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and the Berbice Cricket Board, Keith Foster noted that Berbice Cricket is without doubt on the move and mentioned that three Berbice cricketers were in the West Indies Test Team currently.
Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets received $100 000.00 and a beautiful trophy while Albion received $50 000.00. Man of the finals Sewnarine Chattergoon also collected $10 000.00 and a large Fruta outdoor umbrella while Best Bowler Shawn Pereira and best batsman Kandsammy Surujnarine also received outdoor umbrellas.
