D’Edward defeated Cotton Tree Die Hard by 31 runs yesterday to lift the Berbice Cricket Board/ Perry Gossai West Berbice 100 balls title yesterday afternoon at the Bush Lot Ground.
D’Edward won the toss and took a chance batting first on a sticky wicket that forced the match to be delayed by two hours.
They, then, posted 155-5 from their quota and contained Cotton Tree to 124 from 92 balls.
D’Edward lost Altaf Khan in the third over but the innings was revived by a spirited half century from player of the match, Lakeraj Sookra.
Sookra, who was dropped on 51 made 61 from 41 deliveries, seven of which were belted one bounce into the fence while three cleared the ropes. However, while attempting a cover drive, he edged a delivery to Nick Ramsaroop behind the stumps who executed his third catch.
The right handed batsman shared in a second-wicket partnership of 53 with Davindra Lalsa who made a 14-ball 28, decorated with two fours and two sixes before holding out to Daniel Harrinarine on the long on boundary.
With the two set batsmen back in the dugout, Abdool Subhan came in to pound an unbeaten 29 from just a dozen ball along with Jaipaul Heeralall with 19 from 10 balls.
Heeralall was dropped on six and smacked successive sixes off of Narshan Gafoor as left-arm orthodox, Pooran Persaud finished with 2-23 as the most successful bowler.
In the chase, Subhan returned to halt proceedings with the best bowling performance of the day. His 3-23 included a superb return catch and he also uprooted Ramsaroop’s middle stump.
Wickets tumbled frequently for Cotton Tree as Harrinarine attempting to fend off a short ball, picked out short leg while Persaud edged to the wicket keeper to see their side struggle at 17-2 in the fourth over.
Marlon DePutron, coming in at seven looked to bring his team back into the contest with a 13-ball 32 consisting of four fours and a single six but was caught at deep square leg by Lalsa.
DePutron found a partner in Nashad Gafoor who made a 17-ball 30 but was caught at cover.
Cotton Tree’s captain, Nashad Gafoor said at the half way stage they felt confident in chasing the target but the batting at the top did not work according to plan as they looked for 50 in the first five overs.
The successful captain in Heeralall explained that they looked to post 140 which he thought was defendable.
After the match, sponsor, Attorney-at-Law Arudranauth Gossai, thanked the board for organizing a successful tournament and welcomed all to support cricket development in the country.
President of the BCB, Hilbert Foster said he was happy to see the turn out and welcomed support for the future of Berbice young talents.
