A strong batting performance by the Beterverwagting (BV) Primary school led to them being crowned Lower East Coast (LEC) Champions, even as three other teams became zone champions in the latest action in the Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Festival.
Yesterday’s games in the LEC were all about playing to become champions of the zone. In the first of the two semi-finals Graham’s Hall Primary (142-8) fell five runs short of BV primary. Batting first, openers Omari Glasgow (10) and Tyrice Dennis (16) got BV going with some attacking shots in their two overs at the crease, hitting three fours and two sixes in a 26-run partnership.
However, the Graham’s Hall bowlers pulled themselves back into the game with tight middle overs bowling, which allowed them to pick up five wickets in the space of 55 runs. Shaquan Thompson (16) came in and hit three consecutive boundaries to revive his team’s batting to 147-5 at the end of their 10 overs. During their turn at the crease, Graham’s Hall came close to their target needing to score 10 runs off the final over. They only managed 4 of those runs as Thompson bowled a tidy over taking 2-5. Hendricks and Dennis also picked up 2 wickets each, while Sameer Bacchus and Andrew Samaroo were joint top scorers with 11.
In game two, St Paul’s Primary (126-8) had an easier task in qualifying for the final, defeating Plaisance Primary (110-7) by 16 runs. Renee Caesar took 3 early wickets to restrict Plaisance, who chose to bat first, to 110. They never got going and their innings was built up by wayward bowling which contributed 24 extras. Replying to the small total, St Paul’s batting was boosted by Romario La Rose who made 13 to guide his team to 126-8. Bowling for Plaisance Alisha Adams and Isaiah De Souza took 3-13 and 2-11 respectively.
The finals were a very one-sided affair with the confident and aggressive players from BV Primary defeating St Paul’s Primary by 74 runs. The St Paul’s players were bowled out for 87 by fast and accurate bowling from Dennis and Orlando Marcus who took 3 wickets each.
Openers Dennis (16) and Glasgow (15) continued where they left off in the semi-finals by setting another solid platform. The pair added 34 runs, including three sixes and two fours. To close off a good batting display Shania Rodney scored 15 as her team ended on 161-4 to grab the LEC championship title. Beterverwagting primary will now await the champions of Central East Coast and Upper East Coast to compete for the East Coast District crown.
At the Demerara Cricket Club ground South Ruimveldt Primary School outplayed their opponents to become champions of the South Georgetown Zone. West Ruimveldt primary drew a bye to the finals so the semi-finals saw Ketley Primary School coming up against the eventual winners South Ruimveldt. Ketley Primary made 146-8 in their 10 overs losing to South Ruimveldt (153-5 in 10 overs) by 8 runs.
South Ruimveldt Primary School were crowned champions after defeating West Ruimveldt by 33 runs. Batting first West Ruimveldt was assisted by wayward bowling that contributed 30 in extras to their overall 126-7. In reply, big hitter Kemar Boyce (19) and Oshazay Savory (18) took their team to a comfortable total of 160-4 to secure victory.
FE Pollard Primary School became the final team to qualify for the district finals after comprehensively defeating St Gabriel’s Primary by 32 runs. F.E Pollard made 158-7 in their 10 overs, while St Gabriel’s scored 126-8 in their 10 overs.
FE Pollard joins St Agnes Primary School of the North Georgetown Zone and South Ruimveldt Primary of South Georgetown Zone.
In the day’s final match Timehri Primary (168-7) in 10 overs defeated Soesdyke Primary (161-5) in 10 overs by 7 runs. Timehri joins Supply and Providence primary schools as contenders for the East Bank District champions.
