Joemal LaFleur snatched five wickets to help Berbice crush Demerara by six wickets in Saturday’s May Day Cup cricket tournament held at the historic Albion Sports Complex Ground, Berbice.
The former national Under-19 player who picked up 5-9 from four overs with one maiden, helped restrict the Ramnaresh Sarwan-led Demerara to a paltry 85 runs in 20 overs after top scorers in national U19 skipper Brian Sattaur (42) and Imran Hassan (21) had provided a solid 49-run opening start.
After the two openers were sent packing, Demerara, who were without their big guns, then lost Sarwan for three after he was trapped LBW by LaFleur.
No other batsmen made it into double figures.
Former West Indies U19 off-spinner Gudakesh Motie-Kanahi and national T20 player, Johnathan Foo, picked up a wicket each for Berbice who would stroll to 87 for 4 in 11.1 overs in their reply thanks mainly to a second-wicket partnership of 50 between Kandasammy Surujnarine (19) and Guyana Jaguars wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble who struck four fours and one six in his 37.
After losing national player and West Indies U19 opener Shimron Hetmyer to the second ball of the innings caught at mid-on, Foo and Kevin Ramdeen would then take control of the innings and capitalize on the partnership laid by Surujnarine and Bramble to lead their team to safety with knocks of 16 and 12 respectively.
Earlier, fans had their appetite for cricket opened after Lower Corentyne trounced Canje in their exhibition match. The first semi-final of the exhibition match saw Canje whipping Upper Corentyne by some 32 runs for a spot in the final.
Canje made 131 from their allotted 15 overs with MVP Keon De Jesus top-scoring with 50 inclusive of three fours while Hetmyer chipped in with 21. Naeem Yacoob scored 20 and picked up 4-14 from two overs to help contain his opponents.
However, his team then slid to 99 all out during their chase. Viendra Gooniah chipped in with 25 as he and Yacoob looked to provide a miracle but spells from Nial Smith (4-20) and LaFleur (3-16), proved too much.
The second semi saw Lower Corentyne (LC) getting the better of West Berbice (WB) by 32 runs. LC batted first and made 111 off 15 overs thanks to Bramble (22) and Foo (20). Bowling for WB Romain Budhram (3-24) Pooran Persaud (2-2) and veteran Keith Fraser (2-19). In reply WB made 79 for 9 in 15 overs with A .Subhan 21 not out after Foo took 4-18 to help clinch the match for his side and to be named MVP.
The final match then witnessed Foo delivering another MVP performance as he scored an unbeaten 31 while Bramble 26 and Surujnarine 22 helped gun down a modest target of 108 as they ended on 109-3 in 12.3 overs. Canje, who batted first, could only muster 108 for 7 off their 15 overs after Hetmyer hit five fours in his 37 and Ishwar Singh made 23. Lower Canje’s Motie-Kanhai grabbed 2-27.
As for incentives, the Berbice walked away with $200,000 and a trophy while Demerara took home $100,000 and trophy. Man-of-the-match LaFleur walked away with a cool $20,000 and a trophy for his magic with the ball.
Peter Lewis gave $5000 for every six hit by the teams to which Berbice took home $15,000 for their three sixes hit while another sponsor in Tony Ameerally donated $2000 for every four hit resulting in Berbice earning $20,000 for their 10 and $14,000 for Demerara who had seven.
Organizing Committee member Anil Beharry said that the event was well attended with a large crowd who were well behaved according to him, as he thanked the fans for coming out and making the tournament was a huge success.
The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) president also indicated that the BCB’s annual Independence T20 Cup will be launched immediately after the country’s regional and general elections.
