RHT, Upper Corentyne advance to final

BCB/ANSA McAL Skyy Vodka 20/20 Tournament…
High-level cricket returned to the Upper Corentyne area on Sunday, and residents turned up in large numbers to witness the semi-finals of the 2018 Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Skyy Vodka 20/20 Tournament at the Number 69 Vikings Ground.

The stands were packed to capacity while spectators also lined the boundary boards around the Ground. Upper Corentyne and Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets advanced to the final after recording victories over Albion and Skeldon.
Both games were closely contested as all four teams fought all the way, to leave the large crowd on their feet.
In the first match, Albion, batting first, were restricted to 104 all out in 20 overs. Ritesh Umroa (22), national player Jonathan Foo (21) and Ramesh Kassinauth (18) were the principal scorers while Upper Corentyne’s Devendra Budhoo took 2-15, Devendra Chatterpaul claimed 2-19 and A Roopchand bagged 2-20.
Albion, expertly led by Foo, defended the small total with purposeful bowling and fielding, but two attacking innings from Rishi Persaud (39) and Latchman Roopchand (35 not out) saw Upper Corentyne to 106 for 6 from 19.3 overs.
National Under-19 left arm spinner Kevin Umroa took 3-18 while off-spinner Karran Arjpaul picked up 2-19.
In the second semi-final, Skeldon won the toss and surprisingly invited RHT to take first strike despite the Number 69 pitch proving difficult for stroke playing.
National Under-19 players Kevin and Junior Sinclair added 32 for the first wicket in six overs before Errol Byass trapped Junior Sinclair lbw for 7.
RHT then slipped to 32-3, after losing two more wickets for no runs. They eventually struggled to 63 for 6 at the end of the 13th over before National Under-19 player Kevlon Anderson produced a classy innings of 45, which included a single boundary.
He received crucial support from all-rounder Keith Simpson (20) to add 50 for the seventh wicket. RHT reached 125-8 from 20 overs as medium pacer Jermaine Reid took 4-12 while Byass supported with 2-30.
Skeldon began their chase aggressively and raced to 50-2 from six overs as Naresh Deo (34) and Ryan Ramdass put up two good cameos. However, the introduction of Captain and leg-spinner Shawn Pereira changed the course of the game as he spun webs around the confused Skeldon batsmen to end with 5-9 from four overs.
No other Skeldon batsman reached double figures as the home team were bowled out for 88, much to the disappointment of the large crowd. Eon Hooper and Kevin Sinclair took two wickets each for 10 and 21, respectively.
The grand finale is scheduled for Sunday, October 14, at the same venue. Albion and Skeldon are scheduled to battle for third place while the winner of the tournament walks away $100,000 richer.
BCB President Hilbert Foster was full of praise for the massive turnout of spectators while he was also very impressed by the cooperation of the Number 69 Vikings Cricket Club.
The Club, with the help of overseas donors, undertook emergency work at the venue valued more than $700,000 to accommodate the final of the tournament sponsored by ANSA McAL under its Skyy Vodka brand.
Foster also committed to taking more major First Division matches to the area in the future.
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File & Caption: Shawn Pereira

File: RHT
Caption: The victorious Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets Cricket Team

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