A superb spell of left-arm spin bowling from Kelvin Umroa spearheaded an eight-wicket win for Berbice over defending champions, Demerara in second round action of the Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire and Life Insurance/Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U19 Inter-County three-day competition at Lusignan, yesterday.
It was a day where 17 wickets tumbled with Berbice coming out unscathed after the second day was abandoned due to rain.
Berbice resumed the day on 102-5, trailing Demerara by 46 runs. They were dismissed 18 runs later, 120 all-out in 37.2 overs. Overnight batsman, Kevlon Anderson (20), who added six to the overnight score and other batsmen, perished to the spin of Ashmead Nedd (5-50) and Dwain Dick (4-26), who shared nine wickets between them.
Berbice, however, after surrendering first innings and handing Demerara a lead of 28 precious runs on a tricky surface, subsequently bundled out the defending champions for 50 in 22. 4 overs, with Demerara, gaining a lead of 78 runs.
Only skipper Bhaskar Yadram (22) reached double figures as Umroa snatched 7-16 to rip the life out of the Demerara batsmen who had no answers for the mastery.
The left arm spinner received support from off-spinner Karan Arjpaul (2-6) who last season produced a similar spell, a nine-for, to destroy his City counterparts.
Berbice’s batsmen then completed the eight-wicket win by rocketing to 81 – 2 in only nine overs with openers Alex Algoo (38) and Junior Sinclair (31) plundering the ball to all parts.
The duo shared in a 66-run stand with Algoo blasting six sixes while his partner used the carpet to ease four fours and a maximum.
Nedd (1-18) and Sagar Hatirimani (1-18) from one over were the wicket-takers for Demerara.
Match Summary: Demerara: 148 all out Yadram 43, Adrian Hinds 35; Kevin Sinclair 4 -17 and 50 all out Yadram 22 Umroa 7- 16
Berbice 120 all out Kevin Sinclair 58; Nedd 5-50 Dwain Dick 4-26 and 81 – 2 Algoo 38, Junior Sinclair 31. Berbice won by eight wickets.
