Berbice clinch title with 5-wicket win against Demerara

Hand-in-Hand 3-Day Inter-County tournament…

– Umrao claims impressive 11 for 62

By Brandon Corlette

Defending Under-19 Three-Day Inter-County champions, Berbice, regained their title with a hard-fought five-wicket win over arch rivals Demerara at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground. On the third and final day, the match commenced at 13:00h due to the inclement weather and the wet outfield.

Kelvin Umrao was the star of the final day with 6-41, completing his fourth five-wicket haul in this 2019 tournament. Demerara resuming the final day on 12-5, were bundled out for 58 in 23 overs, with a lead of six, after scoring 60 all out in their first innings.
Berbice were tasked with a chase of 65 for victory, which they completed in 20.4 overs, ending victorious on 65-5.

Earlier, Demerara continued their nightmare performance with the bat, two runs into the final day, they lost Dequan Bamfield who was cleaned up by Umrao when he was taken at the wicket for two. The wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as two Demerara wickets bit the dust with the score on 18.
Sachin Singh, who was held back on the second day, was sent to bat at number eight, and he recorded the second duck of his poor match. He was undone by a Junior Sinclair off-spinner that was full in length. Singh, a West Indies U-19 selectee, showed little foot movements to the dull delivery, and that led to his demise.
Demerara were further reduced to 18-8 when Pradesh Balkishun’s survival innings of three from 36 balls ended when Blairmont’s Nigel Deodat made a mess of his stumps.

Joel Spooner, arguably the best right-arm off-spinner in the tournament, added 19 runs with his captain, Ashmead Nedd, before his top-score of 17 came to a close.
After hitting a sweet six, he was taken at short cover by Sinclair off the bowling of Umrao. His innings was decorated with two fours and one six.
At 37-9, Demerara looked far from reaching 50, but Qumar Torrington added 15 runs with Nedd as the score progressed to 58 all out. The innings came to an end when Nedd was bowled for the second time in the match. On this occasion he scored five, and was bowled by Deodat. Torrington, who hit one of the two sixes of the day, remained unbeaten on 15.
Umrao ended with 11 wickets in the match after his 6-41 in the second innings from 13 overs, including three maidens. Sinclair and Deodat had two wickets each for the Berbice boys.
In reply, Berbice had a cautious start, with Alex Algoo and Sinclair adding 24 runs for the opening wicket.
Algoo was dismissed in limited overs fashion when he hit one at long-off to Andrew Samaroo off the bowling of Joel Spooner. He had scored 10 from 34 balls.
Sinclair was removed for nine via the run out route as Berbice slipped to 32-2 in pursuit of 65 for a championship win.
A 31-run partnership between Seon Glasgow and Kevlon Anderson ensured some calmness in the heated chase.
As the players were buzzing on the field, Anderson attempted to sweep a ball but was caught for 16.
Anderson departed with the score on 62-3, as Berbice required three more runs for victory. They lost two more wickets, and ended on 65-5 in an unconvincing victory.
Glasgow top-scored with a hard-working 18 from 35 balls, as Nedd and Spooner ended with two wickets each for Demerara.
After the match, the Berbice captain disclosed that he had mixed emotions, as his team had played poorly with the bat. The player of the match, Kelvin Umrao, was happy with his performance, finishing with 11 wickets in the match.
Berbice will switch their attention to the one-day format when they meet Essequibo at Albion on Monday May 13, 2019.