A blistering half century from Anil Beharry spurred Jai Hind Jaguars to a 77-run win over West Berbice Masters to top the Berbice Zone in the Guyana Cricket Board/ Tropical Spring Over-40 T20 tournament at Jai Hind Ground, Albion yesterday.
The third round action under glorious sunshine saw Jaguars racing to 168 for six from their allotted overs before restricting West Berbice to 92 for five, handing them their first defeat of the tournament.
Beharry came in with Jaguars in a bit of trouble at 80 for five after losing four wickets for seven runs.
He went on to pummel five fours and five sixes, four of which were consecutively hit in the final over off Masiah Persad to end on 61 not out.
The 51-year-old former president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) added 59 runs for the sixth wicket with Zamin Zikeer who made 23, decorated with two sixes and one four.
Subramani Mangali, who was dropped on 12, went on to make 30. He stroked four fours and one six while sharing in a 40-run second-wicket stand with his skipper Kamraj Sumir (23).
They were both dismissed by Keith Fraser who ended with three for 12.
In the chase, Fraser was dropped on five at long on but held out to the same fielder two balls later as West Berbice never got going.
Rajban Hemraj looked settled with 36 not out but could only stroke three boundaries as the asking rate kept climbing.
Jaipaul Haripaul was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 11. Narine Deonarine claimed two for 12 while Beharry and Michael Chinsammy picked up one wicket each.
Jaguars are set to take on the third place finishers of the Demerara Zone today in the quarter finals at 12.00 hours.
