Spinners Michael Puran and Andre Seepersaud starred as Demerara edged Berbice by four runs in yesterday’s Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Dave West Indian Exports Inter-county U15 final played at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Bourda Ground.
In a match where bowlers dominated, a moderate target of 139 proved too much for Berbice whose innings was wrecked by left-arm spinner Puran (4-14) and off-spinner Seepersaud (3-10).
Berbice ended on 135 all out in 42.3 overs.
Earlier, Berbice left-arm spinner Nikeem Noble captured 5-19 as Demerara folded for 138 in 43.3 overs.
The match would however end in a peculiar manner when Daniel Mootoo, bowling the 43rd over, ran out the Berbice star bowler Noble, “Mankad” style. Needing just four runs for a win, Berbice, with their last pair at the crease were stunned when Noble, who was a few inches short of his crease was run out when the bowler in delivery mode realized the batsman was already out of his crease, retained the ball and broke the stumps.
Match umpire Edward Bowen later confirmed the run out was indeed legitimate as Demerara celebrated their title win. Winning the toss and batting first, openers Sachin Singh (42) and Shoaib Shaw (20) added 48 before off-spinner Aaron Beharry (1-35) removed the latter.
Singh should have gotten to his 50 but seamer Leon Swammy (2-15) accounted for his dismissal. Yudister Persaud (29) who batted well with Singh was the other notable scorer as the remaining batters failed to reach double figures. Noble was magical as he picked up a hat-trick and his fifth wicket in the same breath, accounting for the dismissals of Persaud, Andre Seepersaud (0), Hemnauth Dindyal (6), Puran (0) and Mootoo (0).
Berbice, despite losing their openers Fawaz Gafoor (0) and Marvan Prashad (2), Jerron France resisted with a solid 47 inclusive of six fours, while Glasgow chipped in with 22 before Puran and Seepersaud took over with their contrasting styles of spin.
Gevon Shultz (22) warded off the spinners as the target was reduced to 16 but the team was rattled when Shultz, Carl Gilgeous (0), Beharry (0) and Noble (0) fell cheaply.
Noble was named the Man-of-the-Match, Sachin Singh, who scored 192 runs in the competition won the best batsman award and Amos Sarwan, who finished with 10 wickets, won the bets bowler award.
