BCB/Ricky and Son’s Business Enterprise U11 tournament: RHT Poonai Pharmacy defeat Cotton Tree by 5 wickets to reach the final

…to clash with Albion

Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy defeated Cotton Tree Cricket Club by five wickets to advance to the final of the historic Ricky and Son’s Business Enterprise Under-11 cricket tournament.
Playing at the beautiful Chesney Cricket Ground, the Poonai Pharmacy team recovered from a shaky 34 for 5 in the fifth over to win with more than eight overs remaining. The tournament is the first of its kind to be organised at that level by the county board and forms a part of a well-organised developmental programme. The BCB plans to organise an Under-9 tournament in 2024 to go along with the Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21 and Under-23 competitions.

Cotton Tree Cricket Club won the toss and elected to take first strike. They lost opener Ricardo Laurie for one when pacer Justin Lachigadu took a return catch at 7 for one in the second over. Apart from Trandit Dhani, who top-scored with 17 inclusive of two boundaries, no other batsman reached double figures. Austin Bridgelal (0); Fayad Gaffur (8); Afridi Khan (5); Sandeep Singh (3); and Afraz Gaffur all fell cheaply. Fadeen Khaliem (2) and Richie Laurie (1) were unbeaten when the 20 overs expired. Lachigadu took 2 for 9 from four impressive overs while Jayden Ganpat claimed 3 for 16 with his left-arm spin. Dharvesh Narine (1 for 21) and Khemraj Bharrat (1 for 17) were the other wicket-takers.
Needing to score 91 from 20 overs to reach the final, Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy were ultra- aggressive and found themselves in trouble at 34 for 5 in the fifth over. Lachigadu (6); Jermaine Bobb (3); Vinesh Singh (5) and Dharvesh Narine (4) all fell cheaply while Khemraj Bharrat seemed unlucky to be given caught behind for 3. From 34 for 5, a solid sixth-wicket partnership between Akeem Fraser and Justin Hicks took the team home to victory. Fraser ended on 20 not out with a single boundary while Hicks was unbeaten on 25. Bowling for Cotton Tree, Fayad Gaffur took 2 for 21 and Richie Laurie 2 for 19 from 2 overs.
The final is to be held on a date and at a venue to be decided by the competition committee of the Berbice Cricket Board.