GCB/Bel Air Rubis U-17 Inter-County Tournament…
ꟷ after Mohabir, Dindyal, Campbelle heroics
Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette
A magical five-wicket haul from off-spinner Alvin Mohabir, and masterful batting from Mavindra Dindyal and Jaden Campbell propelled Demerara to a comfortable eight-wicket win against Berbice in their GCB/Bel Air Rubis U-17 Inter-County match played at the Everest Cricket Club ground yesterday. 
Alvin Mohabir has been declared ‘player of the match’ for rocking Berbice to 108 all out, while Dindyal scored an unbeaten 50 and Campbell stood tall with an unbeaten 42.
Watched by Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster and a fair-sized crowd that included parents, Berbice won the toss and elected to bat first. Eleven runs into the match, Mahendra Gopilall, playing away from his body, was caught in the slip cordon by Chandrapaul Ramraj off the bowling of Romel Datterdeen for just 5 runs.
This lively right-arm seamer continued to make inroads in the Berbice side. He removed Mahendra Ramcharitar for six with the score at 18-2; then trapped Berbice skipper Zeynul Ramsammy at the crease for a duck. That Ramsammy decision was considered a poor call by the umpire, as were some of the other leg-before calls that followed, but it left Berbice reeling at 20-3. However, Hemchand Gurdyal and Jonathan Rampersaud added 31 runs for the 4th wicket partnership.
Then, after making an attractive 20 from 34 balls, which included two fours, Rampersaud, a former Guyana U-15 player, was adjudged leg-before to Ramraj in another questionable decision by the umpire. Right-handed opener Gurdyal danced down the track and hit some lovely fours, before a wild swipe saw his promising innings come to an end. It had lasted for 103 minutes, during which he scored 34 runs from 74 balls, decorated with four boundaries.
At 80-5, Berbice were slipped and sliding downhill. With the umpiring decisions already not in their favour, the Berbicians were not doing themselves any favours by their batting, which was not of the highest quality. Their last five wickets fell for just 28 runs, the Berbice innings being wrapped up by off-spinner Alvin Mohabir, who ended with a five-wicket haul.
Although Leon Cecil had made a fighting 25 from 51 balls, which included two boundaries, Mohabir must be credited for scripting a remarkable collapse. Berbice were bowled out in 41.3 overs, with Tomani Caesar being unbeaten on 12. Mohabir took 5-19 in 10 top overs, while Daterdeen claimed 3-18 in his five overs.
In reply to this small total, Demerara reached 29-2 at lunch. West Indies U-16 pacer Isai Thorne woke up the Everest pitch with some lightning fast deliveries, hitting Jaden Campbell and making Anthony Khan uncomfortable; but after that testing period, Campbell and Mavindra Dindyal took the game away from the Berbicians with some classy batting.
The right-handed duo added an unbroken 82-run partnership that left Berbice in a state of shock. Dindyal made a classy 50 from 52 balls, which included eight fours and one six; while Campbelle made an attractive 42 from 48 balls, which was decorated with six fours and one six, as Demerara ended on 111-2 in 21.5 overs.
Meanwhile, at GCC Bourda, the Select U-15 posted 152-9 in 50 overs. Rampertab Ramnauth scored 78 from 100 balls, which included eight fours and one six; while Jarred Allicock claimed 4-28 in his 10 overs.
Essequibo, in reply, managed a two-wicket win, ending on 153-8 in 48.1 overs.
Aryan Persaud stroked a brilliant unbeaten 51 from 143 balls, while Ryan Scouten made 45. Salim Khan had 3-22 and Wavell Allen had 3-19.
The final round of this Bel-Air Rubis U-17 Tournament will bowl off on Saturday, February 29, when Demerara meet Essequibo at GCC Bourda, while Berbice play the Select U-15 Team at Everest.
