BCB Premier Round-Robin T20 Tournament 2023: RHT Namilco, Port Mourant, Young Warriors, Blairmont register victories

…Brilliant Junior Sinclair hits majestic century

The Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) very active cricket season continued on Saturday last with the start of the BCB Premier Round-Robin T20 Tournament, in which matches were played across the ancient county.
This tournament is the second first-division tournament to be started recently, following the Ivan Madray T20 Memorial League. The BCB has also acquired sponsorship for the hosting of two fifty-over tournaments which would be played on a round-robin basis. The sponsors are ANSA McAL Trading and AJM Enterprise respectively.

On Saturday last, Rose Hall Town, Port Mourant, Young Warriors and Blairmont cricket clubs each registered victory in the first round of play in the Premier Round Robin T20 Tournament, while the match involving Albion versus Rose Hall Canje was washed out due to rain. The match between Police Sports Club and Tucber Park also could not be played due to lack of suitable venue.
However, highlight of the opening round was a majestic 110 not out posted by the CPL’s Best Emerging Player, Junior Sinclair, who struck eight huge sixes and nine boundaries against Skeldon at the Area ‘H’ Ground.
Half centuries also came from Alex Algoo (80), Seon Hetmyer (74) and Clinton Pestano (60). Pestano, like Berbice senior player Seon Glasgow, also took a four-wicket haul.
Scores in the matches played were as follows:
Rose Hall Town Namilco defeated Skeldon by a massive 157 runs at the Area ‘H’ Ground. The home team amassed 218 for the loss of one wicket, with Sinclair posting 110 not out; Pestano making 60 not out, with four boundaries and five sixes; and Jason Sinclair retiring hurt on 30 being the principal scores. Matthew Pottaya, who made 11, was the only batsman to be dismissed, as Arvin Ault took 1 for 51 from three expensive overs.

Skeldon, in reply, were bowled out for 61 in 16.4 overs, with only Triston Ramsarran who made 13 and A. Ault who made 12 reaching double figures. Pestano and Junior Sinclair returned with the ball to take 4 for 8 and 3 for 11 respectively.
National under-19 left-arm spinner Jeremy Sandia took 2 for 8.
Port Mourant eased past Upper Corentyne by 8 wickets in a match played at the #69 Ground. Upper Corentyne won the toss and elected to bat. They were bowled out for 125 in their allotted 20 overs, with Paul Tyndall (33 and Alvin Hemchand (28) being the main scorers.
Vinod Samaroo, who took 3 for 8 from 4 overs, and Madan Budhram, who took 2 for 36, were the visitors’ best bowlers.
Port Mourant, in reply, raced to 127 for 2 in the 18th overs, as West Indies youth player Rampertab Ramnauth, who made 38 not out, batted well. Ronald Pottaya and Devenand Chatterpaul who each took 1 for 23 were the successful bowlers for the home team.
At the Blairmont Community Centre, the home team squeezed past West Berbice by one run in an exciting finish. The visitors needed five runs for a tie with the Blairmont score of 115 for 8, but managed to score only a boundary.
Top-scorers for Blairmont were Kevin Jawaheir (29), Javed Karein (16), Seon Glasgow (17) and Nick Ramsaroop (20). Rashaad Gaffur took 3 for 12 and Odel Miller took 2 for 20 as the best bowlers for West Berbice.
The visitors’ push to overtake the paltry Blairmont total was led by Shelton Ramsay (26), Rashaad Gaffur (13) and Andrew Dutchin (15).
Off-spinner Seon Glasgow took 4 for 24, and leg spinner Kevin Jawaheir took 3 for 8 as the best bowlers for Blairmont.
At the Rose Hall Community Centre, Young Warriors Cricket Club defeated a youthful President’s XI team by 117 runs. The President’s XI team consisted of junior players who were unable to make the different clubs’ first-division teams. The main aim of their participation is to expose them to a high level of cricket at a young age, in order to assist in their overall development.
Batting first, after losing the toss, YWCC amassed 202 for 8 from 20 overs, with former national youth player Alex Algoo scoring 80 and Berbice senior player Seon Hetmyer scoring 74. Left arm spinner Kumar Deopersaud took 2 for 30 from 4 overs.
The President’s XI team, in reply, were restricted to 85 for 8, with Julian Bennett top scoring with an unbeaten 50. Algoo took 2 wickets for 8 runs, while Ricardo Ramdehol claimed 2 for 23.
Coach of the President’s XI team, Balram Samaroo, has said that all the members of the team were making their first-division debut, and were excited at the new innovation of the BCB to aid in their development.
The tournament continues next Saturday with second-round matches.