Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt secured a five-run win over Albion Community Centre to win the Berbice Cricket Board/Ivan Madray T20 final in a last over thriller yesterday.
Winning the toss, Thunderbolt batted first, reaching 130 all out in 19.5 overs before limiting Albion to 125 all out in reply.
Laparkan Vice-President, Chandradat Chintamani, who sponsored the tournament in honor of his uncle, said the final was one of the best matches he had witnessed in a long time and vowed to sponsor the tournament for as long as he could afford to.
Thunderbolt captain, Eon Hooper, said the contest was even pretty much throughout the match but they backed themselves and played to their strengths to defend the total.
Losing captain, Kandasammy Surujnarine, said that he felt that losing wickets at crucial times affected their chase and even in the field, they allowed Thunderbolt to benefit from a few extra runs.
In the presence of over 500 spectators at the Number 69 Vikings Ground, Upper Corentyne Thunderbolt were off to an egregious start as Mahendra Chaitnarine removed both openers, Khemraj Mahadeo, who failed to score and Jason Sinclair who made 13.
However, Man-of-the-Match, Delbert Hicks, ensured the revival with a 47-run partnership with Royston Crandon who made 18 from 20 balls, highlighted by two boundaries before he was trapped leg before wicket by Jonathan Foo in the 10th over.
Hicks made 42 from 29 balls with four fours and two consecutive sixes off of Kelvin Umroa.
When Hicks was out caught behind, Thunderbolt suffered a series of quick dismissals as left-arm spinner, Gourav Ramesh (4-36) had three of his four wickets stumped including the wicket of Troy for Matheson 18.
In reply, Albion went from requiring 32 runs from as many balls to needing 10 from the last over.
However, Keith Simpson (3-29) picked up two wickets and had a run out as Albion fell short by five runs short. Hooper supported with 3 for 26.
Sharaz Ramcharran top scored with 31 in his 20-ball innings that featured four fours and one six. Ramcharran added 25 with Surujnarine (22) and 27 with Foo (10) but only David Latchaya (24) had any other meaningful contribution.
