Junior national wicket keeper batsman, Junior Sinclair hit a convincing half century to lift Berbice past Georgetown-Mahaicony by 90 runs and guaranteed them a place in Friday’s final against Essequibo in the Guyana Cricket Board/ Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society/ Ministry of Education/ National Secondary School Cricket League Combined phase.
The talented batsman stroked a top score of 61 in his team’s total of 184 all out from 45 overs after they were inserted on the placid Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda pitch in sunny conditions in the city on Wednesday. The ancient county side then returned to dismiss Georgetown-Mahaicony combined for a paltry 94 in 33.2 overs compliments of quality bowling by Nigel Deodat and Kelvin Umroa, who shared five wickets.
Sachin Singh drives one back to the bowler during a tough innings against quality bowling
Initially the Berbice team was off to a solid start in the match which was reduced to 45 overs per side due to late start. Sinclair and Alex Algoo added 50 for the first wicket before the latter departed for 20 stumped off the bowling of left arm orthodox spinner Daniel Mootoo. Garfield Benjamin was next out in the middle and he added 55 with Sinclair, who was dismissed by Dwain Dick after hitting five fours and a six in a rapid and productive innings.
Following the loss of the second wicket there was one more significant partnership between Benjamin and skipper Kevlon Anderson. They added 42 for the third wicket, however, after Anderson was caught and bowled by Ashmead Nedd for 15, it was a catastrophe as the team from the east hunted quick runs in the last 10 overs.
Among the remaining seven wickets to fall was that of Benjamin, who played well for 46.
Pradesh Balkishun and Nedd both finished with 3-22 while Dick captured two victims.
The host team was off to a poor start in reply, losing Alphius Bookie for naught with the score on three caught behind off the bowling of Leon Swammy who caused a lot of trouble with the new ball.
Subsequently he induced the edge of Sachin Singh who was put down by Sinclair when on five and the team score at 6-1.
Thereafter, Stephan Wilson blaze his way to 31 as his side raced to 48 before he was brilliantly caught by Seon Glasgow at slip off the bowling of Umroa. In came Balkishun and immediately he perfectly glide a ball into the on side, bisecting square leg and deep mid-wicket to get off the mark with a superb boundary.
He was the best batsman to watch during the Georgetown-Mahaicony innings but his teammates did not support him for long periods and at 64 he lost his skipper Singh, who was shaky for most of his knock, for 25 when he attempted to clear the ropes only to be caught on the long on boundary by Algoo off the bowling of Umroa for 25.
The host went downhill afterwards as Dick, who did not troubled the score was caught in the very next over by Swammy, who ran backwards from mid-on to take a splendid catch to give Deodat his first wicket.
They lost their remaining six wickets for just 30 runs to give the ancient county side a comfortable victory. Balkishun played well during that process for 25 until he was run out as the penultimate victim.
Deodat finished with figures of 3-18 from eight overs while Umroa had 2-13 from the same amount of overs. Sammy and Anderson had one wicket apiece. Apart from Sinclair and Benjamin knocks with the bat and Deodat and Umroa’s bowling, the Berbice team was spectacular in the field as the effected two run outs and took several brilliant catches.
