Defending champions, Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes defeated Blairmont by five wickets while Albion registered a three-wicket win over Tucber Park Cricket Club to book their spots in the final of the Berbice Cricket Board/ Mike’s Pharmacy Under-15 Inter Club 50 overs championship.
With the sun in all its glory contrary to recent times, on Tuesday at the Albion Community Development Centre Ground, Tucber Park took first strike but with the wicket, favouring the bowlers, saw Kumar Deopersaud picking up 4-20 while Pavendra Ganesh snatched 4-27 as the visitors were skittled out for 104 with Zeynul Ramsammy being the mainstay in the batting line up with a tenacious 35.
In reply, Albion’s batsmen found it equally as challenging to bat on the surface with Ramsammy returning with the ball to capture 2-16 while N. Looknauth secured 2-27 but the total was not enough as the home side rallied to 105-7 with Hemendra Gurdyal and Tameshwar Mangal stroking 21 and 18 respectively. Meanwhile at Area H Ground, Blairmont were dismissed in 35.3 overs as the mustered 103 off the strength of Shreedath Roopnarine’s 27 and a sloppy bowling display from Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes who leaked 32 extras despite Matthew Pottaya (2-16), Jeremy Sandia (2-23), Johnathan Rampersaud (2-24) and Kevin Ramnarine (2-18) getting wickets.
In the chase, Blairmont tried valiantly to defend the small total but Rampersaud showed he was a class above the rest with a staggering 54 and with support coming from Mahendra Gopilall with 12 saw their side to 106-5 and into the final where they will defend their title. Roopnarine returned to claim 2-19 while H. Ragbir bagged 2-32.
The two finalists will now face off for the championship on Saturday at the Albion Community Center Ground with the first ball set to bowl off from 09:30h.
