Man-of-the-Match in the final that saw Berbice retaining their Hand-In-Hand Inter-County Under-19 three-day title, Kelvin Umroa, said that his performance is a defining moment in his career.
Umroa, a left-arm spinner from Albion, who is following in the footsteps of club mates, Veerasammy Permaul and Devindra Bishoo has quickly risen to the top of the youth ranks, collecting 23 wickets in three matches, the most by any bowler this season including an 11-62 match haul against Demerara.
The national youth player was head and shoulders over his competitors, averaging just over seven runs per wicket at an economy rate of 2.5.
The West Indies Under-19 prospect reflected on his performance with Stabroek Sport.
“I think the match was suitable for me because the conditions of the pitch were giving me turn,” he said.
“I was very confident because I had been getting wickets in the previous games so I just backed myself to lead from the front as a senior guy in the Berbice team,” he added.
Umroa said that it was experience that had done the trick for him.
He said a similar situation unfolded last year where they were staring down the barrel of a first innings loss only to rebound.
“We were in a similar situation and I did it so I backed myself to come through this time again, so I just remember what I did and implemented it,” he said.
The left-arm spinner noted that his game has improved a lot since last season and attributed some of his ‘new-found tricks’ to being on the West Indies Under-19 training camps.
“I think I gained a lot of experience from the West Indies Under-19 training camps, being among players and coaches from the other territories, they give me a different perspective on how to play and enhance my match situation skills,” Umroa said.
Heading into the 50-over format of the Inter-County tournament, Umroa said he expects to do well and lead from the front.
He said he is yearning to do well at his home since Berbice will open their account against Essequibo at Albion tomorrow.
