Although rain put a damper on proceedings in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-County Women’s Super50 final between Demerara and Berbice at the Malteenoes Sports Club Ground, the Berbicians, via an excellent bowling performance, defeated their arch-nemesis to be crowned champions.
Early morning showers yesterday meant that the game, which was played under overcast conditions, had to be reduced to 37 overs a side starting at 12pm. Such was the quality of Berbice’s bowling that Demerara, who won the toss and elected to bat, were all out for 76 in less than two hours, as national player Ashmini Munisar led the way for the ancient country with a miserly 3/16 from her six overs.
Demerara’s openers, Mandy Mangru and Naomi Barkoye, gave their side a reasonable start, getting to 27 before Mangru (12) was stumped by Berbice skipper Shemaine Campbell off the bowling of Plaffiana Millington.
From there, it was a downward spiral for the Demerara unit, as they lost their next nine wickets for just 49 runs. Only Barkoye (24) and Nia Latchman (16 not out) would get past five runs as the rest of Demerara’s batting order folded cheaply.
In all, Demerara’s innings lasted 29 overs as Munisar received support from Millington (2/7, 5 overs), Tricia Hardat (2/14, 4 overs), and Sheneta Grimmond (2/14, 6 overs) to put Berbice in the proverbial driver’s seat.
In response, Berbice too began steadily, with Realanna Grimmond and youngster Crystal Durant putting on 23 before the former was caught attempting a heave over long-on for a run-a-ball 18.
Durant and Shabika Gajnabi then took their side within sight of victory with a 34-run partnership, with Gajnabi being the aggressor while Durant acted as an anchor. By the time Durant was bowled by Nia Latchman for 11 (25 balls), Berbice just needed an additional 20 runs for victory.
receives her award from a GCB official.
Captain Campbell strode to the middle and played a few crisp shots but was caught on the backfoot to be dismissed leg before wicket (LBW) by Kayscia Schultz for 8 to leave Berbice on 67/3. However, that proved to be the last wicket that was realised by the Demerara bowling lineup, as Tia Isaacs (1 not out) and Gajnabi (24 not out, 31 balls, 4sx2) saw their side to a resounding victory in just 14 overs.
For her role with the ball, Munisar was adjudged player of the match. Speaking to Stabroek Sports after the match, Munisar revealed that she tried to be as consistent as possible with her line and length, which paid dividends.
Meanwhile, Berbice skipper Campbell told this publication that she was pleased with her side’s performance but pointed out that the T20 competition, which begins tomorrow, will require a more fastidious approach from her charges.
Perhaps on a more sombre note, Campbell, who is now Guyana’s most experienced campaigner on the regional and international scene, explained that while she was pleased with the emergence of fresh talent, there is a need for more to be done with respect to the development of the female cricket system in Guyana.
