BCB Two-Day tournament: RHT NAMILCO Thunderbolt secures 2nd successive victory

The powerful Rose Hall Town (RHT) NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour First Division team, on Sunday last, secured their second consecutive outright victory as play in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Two- Day competition continued in the ancient county. They got pass arch rivals Port Mourant by six wickets at the Port Mourant Cricket Ground despite missing eight of their senior players, due to overseas and work commitments.
PMCC won the toss and elected to take first strike on a wicket with some preparation moisture and were bowled out for 80 in just thirty five overs with National junior player Mathew Pottaya taking five wickets for thirteen runs from sixteen overs while national senior player Junior Sinclair took 3 for 30 .Javed Karim and Keith Simpson took one wicket apiece for 13 and 11 runs respectively as only Rampersaud Ramnauth (15) and his elder brother Rampertab Ramnauth (33) reached double figures for the home team.
Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt, in response, chalked up 142 on a pitch keeping low, later in the day. Former national junior players Romesh Bharrat (33), Javed Karim (19) and Pottaya (30) were the top scorers as the visitors got a first innings lead of 54 runs. Left- arm spinner Rueben Latcha took six wickets for thirty- four runs while off spinner Rampersaud Ramnauth claimed three for eighteen runs.
With a deficit of 54 runs, PMCC batted a little better in their second innings and were able to reach 164, primarily due to an even fifty from Rampersaud Ramnauth. Ramnauth struck three boundaries in his top score and received support from Vishal Williams (33), Rampertab Ramnauth (27) and Paul Tyndall (19). Junior Sinclair’s 3 for 40 and Clinton Pestano’s 3 for 30 were the main wicket takers for the visitors while left arm spinner Keith Simpson (2 for 40) and Matthew Pottaya (1 for 21) and Javed Karim (1 for 2), also bowled well.
Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt, needing 111 to register their second straight victory in the tournament, were given an eighty- run opening partnership by Karim and Romesh Bharrat. Karim, in his first half century for his new club top scored with a solid fifty, featuring seven boundaries while Bharrat chipped in with 23. Victory was achieved at 112 for four wickets with over four hours remaining on the final day. Rampersaud Ramnauth completed a fine all- round performance by taking 3 wickets for 22 runs while Rueben Latcha took one for 16.
The next round would see a top of the table clash between Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour and Albion playing at the Area H Ground. Rose Hall Town is expected to be strengthened by the addition of senior players Jonathan Rampersaud, Kevin Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall and Jermey Sandia