BCB/Ali Bakery U17 Inter-Club tournament: Albion defeat Rose Hall Town to lift title

Albion have defeated Rose Hall Town Bakewell by ninety-four runs to lift the Berbice Cricket Board/Ali Bakery U-17 Inter-Club tournament title for 2023.
In the final, played under sunny conditions at the breezy Cotton Tree cricket ground on the West Coast of Berbice, home of tournament sponsors Ali’s Bakery, Albion won the toss and elected to bat first. They immediately lost Ari Kadir, run out for nought by Tameshwar Mangal. Damion Cecil added 30 for the second wicket, before Cecil was bowled by Kolmanchand Ramnarace for 7.
Solid batting from Afraz Budhoo with 34 (four sixes and a boundary), Devin Lallbehari with 16, Mangal with 28, and A. Jawahir with 55 (2×6, 4×4) led Albion to a solid 209 all out in 49.4 overs.

Bowling for Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Kolmanchand Ramnarace took 5 for 54 from ten overs, while Deeraj Ramjit claimed 2 for 38. Raj Tika and Guyana U17 Vice Captain Matthew Pottaya each took a wicket, for 30 and 21 runs respectfully.
Needing to score 210 from their allotted 50 overs, Rose Hall Town Bakewell lost opener Mario Butcher, caught off the bowling of N. Isphik for nought. The score was at 4 for 1 in the second over when Nelroy Hicks was run out for 10. Guyana U15 player Ramzan Koober was also run out, for 13, thereby reducing Rose Hall Town to 30 for 3 in the 6th over.

A well-played innings of 44 from Pottaya eventually led his team to 115 all out from 37 overs, as he ran out of partners to stay with him. National U15 wicket-keeper Sohail Mohamed was the only other batsman to reach double figures, with 10.
Bowling for Albion, Kumar Deopersaud took 3 for 17 from 6 overs, Feaz Baksh took 1 for 14, and Tameshwar Mangal took 1 for 15 from 6.3 overs, as several Rose Hall Town Bakewell batsmen were dismissed via the run-out route.
Arwin Devindra Jawahir was adjudged “man of the finals” for his match-winning innings of 55.
The winning team received $70,000 cash and a trophy, while the runner-up took home $40,000 and a trophy. The “man of the match” received a trophy and cash prize.
Chairman of the BCB Competitions Committee, Leslie Soloman, has said the BCB is proud to successfully complete another youth tournament, and would now work on completing the U11 and U13 tournaments. Emphasis would be placed on senior cricket at the second and first division levels, while the BCB would also start the 2024 season early, with the U15 inter-club tournament.
Mr. Roshan Gaffoor, an employee of Ali’s Bakery, expressed gratitude to the Berbice Cricket Board for organizing an excellent tournament, and encouraged the players to remain focused. He has congratulated Albion on a well-deserved victory.