An all-round performance from Junior Sinclair saw Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt defeating Albion by seven wickets to lift the 2019 Berbice Cricket Board/Elizabeth Styles Under-21 title on Saturday.
Playing at the Area H Ground, Rose Hall Town, Albion won the toss and batted in overcast conditions. With rain interrupting the match, the contest was reduced to a 31-over per side affair.
Albion duly posted 159 for nine from their allotted overs before RHT Namilco cruised to 160 for three in 29.4 overs.
Albion pacers, Sylus Tyndall and Kevlon Anderson removed both openers to reduce the visitors to 6-2 by the fourth over.
Twelve runs later and in the 11th over, rain forced the match to be delayed for about three hours.
However, a captain’s knock from Adrian Sukwah revived Albion’s innings.
He stroked six fours and one six in the top score of 65 after being dropped on 27 and again eight runs later.
Sukwah lost experienced partners in Sarwan Chaitnarine who was stumped off of off-spinner, Junior Sinclair but added 51 runs for the fourth wicket with Ramesh Kasinath (10).
Sukwah eventually departed, holing out to long on off of off-spinner, Jonathan Rampersaud.
Antonio February picked up where Sukwah left off and carved three fours and three sixes.
He took a liking to Rampersaud who he belted for 30 runs in an over before perishing off the final ball off the over.
Sinclair then returned to remove Kelvin Umroa who made a brisk cameo of 19 to end with 3-37 while Rampersaud returned 2-63.
In the chase, Sinclair navigated Albion’s experienced bowling attack on his way to a Man-of-the-Match worthy 73, highlighted by seven fours and four sixes.
The former national youth all-rounder lost his opening partner, Lucas Arthur who was run out for five and carried the score to 56 before Anderson was also run out for 19.
Sinclair was joined by Mahendra Gopilall and the pair added 83 for the third wicket before Sinclair was trapped leg before wicket to Kasinath.
Gopilall finished on 50 not out, laced with four fours and two sixes to see his side over the line.
The winners carted off with $100,000 while Albion settled for $50,000.
