Led by a collective team effort, Berbice continued to gain the upper hand against Demerara when they registered a 32-run win at the Everest Cricket Club in the Hand-in-Hand One-Day U-19 Tournament.
Ashmead Nedd had 2-36, but conceded 18 runs in his final over
Berbice won the toss and elected to bat first on a well-prepared Everest pitch with a layer of grass. The defending champions scored 185 all out in 47.4 overs; Junior Sinclair was the mainstay with a top score of 44.
Demerara produced a collective effort with the ball, with Ashmead Nedd, Qumar Torrington and Alphius Bookie grabbing two wickets each. In reply, the team were restricted to 153-8 when their overs expired.
Earlier, Berbice lost their opening batsman, Alex Algoo, who was trapped in-front by Torrington for two. Captain Kevlon Anderson partnered Junior Sinclair and revived the innings with a 59-run partnership. The classy Anderson continued to look good at the crease, but once more failed to stitch together a big score.
Anderson was out bowled when he inside-edged one to the stumps off medium pacer Sachin Singh for a shot-filled 28, that included four boundaries. Berbice then lost debutant Deonauth Persaud for a third-ball duck when he spooned one at cover off the bowling of Joel Spooner.
The heavens opened up and Berbice were 72-3 in 20 overs, with Sinclair and Garfield Benjamin at the crease. After the 38-minute rain delay, Berbice lost Benjamin at 94-4 when he was caught behind for 17 off a Nedd delivery. Sinclair, who scored a half-century in the opening round, looked set for another before he was undone by a beauty from Nedd.
Sinclair scored a fighting 44 from 92 balls, including five hallmark boundaries, before he was bowled all ends up at 99-5 inside 30 overs. In the latter part of the innings, the explosive left-handed duo of Leon Swamy and Seon Glasgow added 38 vital runs. Glasgow was dismissed for an aggressive 31 that was decorated with four boundaries and one six.
Berbice reached 185 when Swamy was run out for 29 when the innings concluded. Right-arm medium pacer Bookie ended with 2-13, Nedd claimed 2-36 and Torrington ended with 2-39. In Demerara’s chase, they lost openers Robin Williams and Sachin Singh cheaply. Williams was trapped in front by Swamy for one and the struggling Singh, who was dropped on one by Sinclair, was removed in the same Anderson over for three.
At 10-2, Demerara were in a spot of bother, but some defensive batting from Adrian Hinds and Bookie ensured they had a chance in the game. The duo added 54 runs together after soaking up a number of dot balls. Hinds was the first dismissed for a painstaking 31 from 80 balls that included two boundaries. His partner, Bookie was the only other batsman to surpass 20.
Bookie scored 30 from 96 balls before he was cleaned up by Swamy, hitting one four and one six. In the latter part of the innings, Nedd instilled some hope that completing the chase was possible before he fell for 19, pulling one to deep square leg off his counterpart, Anderson.
It was game over by that point as Demerara ended on 153-8 when their 49 overs expired. The match was reduced owing to the 38 minutes of rain earlier in the day. Anderson had 3-38 off vicious seam bowling while Nigel Deodat had 2-11 and Swamy had 2-32.
Berbice will meet Guyana Select U-17 on Friday, May 17 at Everest while Demerara and Essequibo will play at GCC Bourda.
