Albion Community Centre Cricket Club stormed to a 106-run victory over Port Mourant Cricket Club to take the $30,000 cash prize in the 20th Balram Memorial match.
Playing at the Albion Community Centre ground Sunday, Albion recorded their 15th title in this event which is sponsored by Rose Hall Town businessman, Deonarain Balram in memory of his father, Balram Shane and is used as a fund raising venture for both teams.
Batting first, Albion posted 215 all out in 48.5 overs with Adrian Sukhwa playing a shepherd’s role with a well-constructed 78, laced with eight fours and one six. Sukhwa added 75 for the second wicket with Kandasammy Surjunarine (19) and 44 for the third wicket with Rajiv Ivan (18) before he was caught and bowled by Amir Khan. With Sukhwa’s dismissal, Sarwan Chaitnarine and Ramesh Kasinauth boosted the score with 37 and 19 runs respectively.
Mahendra Boodram (2-36), Khan (2-49) and Arif Chan (2-41) were the principal wicket-takers for Port Mourant.
In the chase, left-arm spinner Kelvin Umroa stifled the Port Mourant batting for just 109 in 39.4 overs. Umroa ended with 4-30 while Chaitnarine returned to take 3-18. Opener, Alex Algoo (21) lost partners frequently as the visitors failed to build partnerships apart from a seventh wicket stand of 42 between Chan (34) and Khan (21). No other batsman reached double figures.
