BCB/Ivan Madray Memorial T20 Tournament: Brilliant Pestano leads RHT NAMILCO to title

…Chintamani renews sponsorship for 2024

National all-rounder Clinton Pestano struck a brutal 47 not out off just 18 balls to lead Berbice powerhouse Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour to another Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) championship.
They defeated arch-rivals Albion Community Centre Cricket Club by six wickets at the colourful Number 69 Vikings Ground in front of a large crowd of Upper Corentyne cricket fans.
Albion, led by West Indies left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, won the toss in brilliant sunshine and elected to take first strike on a pitch that has a reputation of keeping low in the afternoon. National player Anthony Bramble and senior Berbice player Adrian Sukhwa gave them a flying start by adding 51 for the first wicket in 5.3 overs before Bramble was dismissed by Slyus Tyndall for 30. Former national player Jonathan Foo joined Sukhwa and they added 11 before Sukhwa was caught off the bowling of left- arm spinner Keith Simpson for 18 and when Simpson trapped Afraz Budhoo leg before wicket for 2, Albion had slipped to 66 for 3 in the 11th over. Permaul was then caught behind off the pacy Keon Sinclair for 1 at 83 for 4. Without a run added to the score, a struggling Foo was sent packing by the impressive Simpson, leg before wicket for 12. Devindra Bishoo, the former West Indies spinner, was then caught by Keon Sinclair on the midwicket boundary off Eon Hooper for 13. Ari Afizal Kadir (14 no) and Kelvin Umroa (4 no) added 13 for the seventh wicket to lead Albion to 119 for 6 off their allotted 20 overs.

Bowling for RHT NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour, Simpson had the remarkable figures of 4-0-9-3 while Tyndall had 1-15, Keon Sinclair 1-23 and Eon Hooper 1-9 all took a wicket apiece as the eventual champions fielded well to support their attack.
Needing to score 120 to win the coveted title, RHT NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour were given an opening stand of 22 by Amazon Warriors player Junior Sinclair and national Under-17 player Matthew Pottaya before Permaul bowled Sinclair with a faster arm ball for 4 in the fourth over. Pottaya contributed a useful 25 before he was beaten on the front foot and bowled by Leon Cecil at 43 for 2 in the eight over. Albion’s confidence was further lifted when Permaul trapped West Indies A player Kevlon Anderson for 14 in the 10th over at 49 for 3.
National youth all-rounder Jonathan Rampersaud and Pestano then joined forces to add 37 for the fourth wicket with Rampersaud being the aggressive partner. Pestano was forced to retire briefly on 10 not out when he suffered cramps in the hot heat and was replaced by Vidal Crandon. Crandon was run out in a mix-up with Rampersaud, without facing a single ball. Pestano resumed his innings with his team requiring 35 from 28 balls and put on a display of sheer brutal hitting (4,6,6,6,6). He then hit another huge six off Permaul in the 17th over to achieve victory with 21 balls remaining. Pestano ended on 47 no from 18 deliveries while Rampersaud faced 28 balls to end on 25 no, with two sixes and two fours. Permaul took 2 for 9 from 2.4 overs while Cecil had 1 for 9 from 2 overs. Pestano, who was recently named in the Guyana senior team training squad for trials, was named Man of the Finals for his brilliant innings.

BCB President Dr Cecil Beharry and former President Hilbert Foster both praised the two teams for putting on a brilliant performance for the huge crowed. Dr Beharry announced major plans for Berbice cricket, including upcoming coaching clinics, assistance for clubs, and more tournaments at all levels.
Foster, who was recently selected as the Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee, pledged his support for the new President and committed to assisting as needed. Sponsor Chandradat Chintamani hailed the BCB for organising another successful tournament and expressed delight at the huge turnout of fans at the finals. He disclosed that after discussion with the Special Events Committee Chairman, he agreed to sponsor the tournament for the fifth edition in 2024. Chintamani was full of praise for his late uncle, Ivan Madray, who played two Test Matches for the West Indies in the 1950s before migrating to England, where he died in 2009. He was the third Berbician to play Test cricket following in the footsteps of John Trim and the legendary Rohan Kanhai. Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) cricket manager Robby Kissoonlall dedicated the title to the management and staff of the National Milling Company (NAMILCO), especially Managing Director Bert Sukhai.