Tamarind Root, Albion, Young Warriors, Tucber Park, Cotton Tree, Whim and Rose Hall Community Center Cricket Club all registered wins when the Berbice Cricket Board/New Building Society limited-overs, second-division competition commenced Sunday at various grounds in the county.
.Some 80 teams, have entered the competition, the most in the event’s history, the BCB stated.
In the opening fixture at the Hampshire Ground, home team Tamarind Root coasted to an eight-wicket victory over Kildonan.
Winning the toss, the visitors opted to bat, posting 125 from 20 overs before the hosts successfully chased the target in 15.2 overs.
Only two of the Kildonan batsmen held their own with Suraj Seelall top scoring with 33.
His innings included two boundaries.
Richard Smith struck a brisk 24, with three fours and two sixes to help his team go past three figures.
Left-arm spinner, Dalip Rangasammy took 5-23 from five overs while Kenny Deonarine also took five wickets ending with figures of 5-10 from six overs.
Deonarine returned with bat in hand to smash a 22-ball 40, decorated with four fours and two sixes.
He shared in a 105-run partnership with Avinash Looknauth who was unbeaten on 58.
Looknauth’s innings was highlighted by 10 fours and two sixes, both of which were over the mid-wicket area.
Left-arm seamer, A. Chase took two wickets in as many deliveries, removing Deonarine who walked despite the umpire signaling a front foot no-ball to the delivery which he top edged back to the bowler.
Chase also dismissed Mahendra Hemraj who was caught at cover off a full toss.
At the Jai Hind ground, Albion required just 12.2 overs to reach their target of 91 and win by nine wickets after bowling out the hosts in 28 overs.
Left-arm spinner, Kelvin Umroa showed why he is regarded as one of the best under-19 bowlers in the West Indies, picking up 4-6 while Devindra Latchman bagged 3-17. For the hosts, Deonarine Ramdat top scored with a boundary-less 30 and was supported by Nazrodeen Bux (19), Veerpen Moonsammy (16) and Imran Khan (12).
In reply, Umroa returned to blast three sixes in his 27-run cameo but Jeetendra Outar powered his side over the line with 45 not out, laced with seven boundaries. Mahendra Chaitnarine was not out 14.
Cotton Tree defeated Bush Lot by six wickets. Bush Lot won the toss and posted 186 with N Singh top scoring with 87, supported by G. Fraser with 32. Roshan Gafoor returned 5-15 while T. Nauth took 2-16. In reply, a 149-run partnership for the third wicket between Waqar Hassan (88) and Gafoor (52) swung the match around.
Rose Hall Community Center Cricket Club (RHCCCC) handed Edinburgh a 137-run thrashing on home soil.
Rose Hall batted first and posted 312-8 from their allotted overs. Michael Campbelle led the way with a boundary-laced 92. He stroked nine sixes and four fours. Campbelle was supported by Mootoosammy Veerasammy (64; 5×6, 4×4) and West Indies Under-15 player, Isaiah Thorne (43; 2×6, 5×4). B. Rajabeer picked up 3-35.
In reply, Edinburgh were restricted to 175 with Satnarine Singh claiming 3-12, Balram Samaroo (2-7) and Campbelle (2-21). G. DeJesus stroked 47 and Rajabeer 28.
At Young Warriors’s home ground, Cumberland, the hosts handed Betsy Ground a 177-run trouncing. Young Warriors piled on 296-5 before limiting the visitors to 119-9 in 20 overs, playing with 10 men.
The hosts were off to a blitz courtesy of National under-19 opener, Alex Algoo who blistered 72 runs from 59 balls. Algoo’s innings included three fours and three sixes and the left-hander showed his ability to pick the gaps and work the ball on the ground.
Mortimer Fraser supported with a composed 44, an innings which included three fours and three sixe.
Unbeaten half centuries from Kassim Khan and Suresh Dhani duly spurred Warriors to their imposing total.
Khan pounded three fours and two sixes in his 54-run knock while Dhani hammered six fours and two sixes in his even half century. A. Shobai bagged 4-54.
In the chase, left-arm spinner, Trevon Stanislaus took 3-23 and J. Henry 2-49.
Dhani, Khan and Anil Beharry took one wicket each.
Whim Cricket Club narrowly defeated Courtland by seven runs after posting 117 all out.
V. Samaroo top scored with 59 (eight fours) and returned with the ball to take 4-16.
Tucber Park A defeated Korthbraadt by 119 runs while Tucber Park B lost by 55 runs to Young Warriors B.
