D’Edward CC, Cotton Tree CC to clash in historic West Berbice Perry Gossai Memorial final

The quiet Bush Lot Community Ground, located in the heart of West Coast Berbice, will come alive today, Sunday April 21, when the final of the Berbice Cricket Board-organised Perry Gossai Memorial 100 Balls Cricket Tournament bowls off.

BCB President Hilbert Foster and sponsor, Attorney Arun Gossai pose with the trophies on offer

Sponsored by Attorney-at-Law Arun Gossai and family in honour of his late father Perry Gossai, who had been an outstanding lawyer from Woodley Park, West Coast Berbice, this tournament has been specially organised by the vibrant Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) for teams in the West Berbice Sub-Association.
The tournament started with the participation of 14 teams, including Blairmont Community Centre, Paradise Cricket Club, Bush Lot United, Bush Lot Rising Stars, Cotton Tree Cricket Club, Cotton Tree Die Hards, Shieldstown Cricket Club, Achievers Cricket Club, No. 5 Cricket Club, D’Edward Cricket Club, Hopetown Cricket Club and Bath Cricket Club.
Bush Lot Rising Stars, Cotton Tree Die Hards and D’Edward Cricket Club were the final three teams left standing after two knockout rounds. Cotton Tree Die Hards defeated Bush Lot Rising Stars in the first playoff match, and then D’Edward Cricket Club thrashed Bush Lot Rising Stars to knock them out of the tournament.
Predicting a winner for Sunday’s finals is difficult, as the teams are balanced on paper. D’Edward Cricket Club, on paper, might start as favourites, but Cotton Tree Die Hards are known for their fighting spirit.
D’Edward Cricket Club would be spearheaded by Altaf Khan, Heeralall Bridgelall, Romesh Boodram, Keith Fraser and Derick Lalsa. Cotton Tree Die Hards would depend heavily on Nick Ramsaroop and Roshan and Fawaz Gafoor.
Action bowls off at 13.00 hours, and sponsor Arun Gossai and BCB President Hilbert Foster would later hand out prizes to the winner, runners-up and Man of the Finals.
This would be the second tournament that the Berbice Cricket Board has arranged for teams in West Berbice following the Magic Moments 20/20 Tournament last year. The main objectives of the Internal Zone Tournaments are to promote the game at the grassroots level, to develop social cohesion at the village level, and to identify new cricketing talents.