Lower Corentyne on Friday defeated defending champions East Bank/New Amsterdam/Canje Combined on first innings to become the 2013 National Commun-ication Network U15 inter-zone cricket champions of Berbice.
The final was reduced to 35-overs-a-side owing to a late start because of rain and Lower Corentyne,
batting first, made 118 for 5 from their allotted overs.
They were indebted to a 73-run partnership by openers Adrian Sukwah and Junior Sinclair who each made 38.
Left arm spinner Steffon Anderson ended with 3 for 27 from 12 overs.
The East Bank/New Amsterdam/Canje team in reply made 84 all out.
Isaiah Lewis, 17 and Malcolm Mickle, 12, were the principal scorers.
Off-spinner Gobin took 5 for 21 from six overs while left-arm spinner Harrichan bagged 4 for 31.
In the third place playoff West Berbice gained first innings points from Upper Corentyne. The match ended in a draw.
West Berbice scored 179 all out with Rameshwar Somwaru (37), Kishan Arjune (31) and Sachin Veerasammy (22) the main contributors. Bowling for Upper Corentyne Nicholas Seenarine grabbed 5 for 45 and Totaram Parasram 2 for 14. Upper Corentyne fell short the target managing 120 all out with Abdur (42) and Tamesh Baichan (21) the top scorers.
Curt Shiwtahal bagged 3 for 18 and Kris Ramnarine 3 for 21.
Gobin was adjudged man-of-the-match.
Fizal Jafferally, NCN’s Manager in Berbice, congratulated Lower Corentyne for becoming champions and said that NCN was pleased to play a role in cricket development in the county. He praised the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), for their stewardship of the sport and stated that it was for that reason that NCN came on board.
Jafferally said that the government has young people at heart which was why they were investing in Berbice cricket with the impending installation of lights at the Albion Community Centre.
He disclosed that the lights were already acquired adding that the contract for the laying of the foundation was already out.
He disclosed that government has invested in 15 grounds across Berbice last year and has plans to invest in 30 more this year.
Players from both teams in the final were presented with educational materials.
