Farm, Ruimveldt book final date in EBDCA 50-over tourney

― Batson, Narayan outstanding

After two days of cricket at the Farm Sports Club ground, East Bank Demerara the home team and Ruimveldt Sport Club have done enough to qualify for the final stanza of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association 50-over tournament 2016.
Regular Georgetown player, Oslyn “Bread” Batson made hay while sun shine in stroking a commanding half century and picking up a five wicket haul to see the hosts get past Sandpipers by 99 runs on Sunday.
In all, Batson hit two fours and five sixes in a top score of 62 as Farm recovered from 6-2 to post 211-9 after the game was reduced to 40 overs. After being pegged back, Shivram Persaud and Ricky Debydial revived the innings with a third-wicket stand of 53 before Persaud went for 38 while Debydial made 32. Following their demise Farm lost a few quick wickets before Batson held the lower order together with level-headed batting in front of a fair sized crowd.
Elvis Salik and Mahendra Dhanpaul supported Batson with 36 and 19 respectively as J. Mc Alistair picked up three wickets and Orin Marks two.
In reply, Sandpipers never threatened the 212 target and were eventually bundled out for 112 with Colin Benn making 25 as Batson ran through the batting to finish with 5-20 from 7.4 overs and A. Peerbacchus supporting with 3-28.

A day earlier, it was semifinal one between Ruimveldt SC and Eccles with the latter narrowly getting over the line by seven runs in a rain affected contest.
Batting first, Ruimveldt lost four wickets before Danny Narayan anchored the innings as he shared in useful partnerships with Ershad Ally and Daniel Paul. Narayan struck seven fours and three sixes in a brisk 72 as Ruimveldt posted 206 all out in 34.4 overs. Ally made 33 and Paul 23 as Kelvin Singh captured 3-17 and Kishan Singh 3-33.
Daniel Barker and Lenny Pancham added 44 for the opening stand to get Eccles reply off to a fine start before Pancham went for 29. Eccles then lost three quick wickets before the rain stopped play with the score on 98-4 in 22.4 overs.  When the action resumed after about an hour, Eccles were set a revised target of 161 in 35 overs, needing a further 63 from 13 overs. With calculated risks, they seemed on course with Barker still at the crease. However, after his departure after hitting six fours and one six in hitting the top score of 68, the efforts of the remaining batsmen were not enough to see their team home as they were bowled out for 154 in 33.5 overs. Markie Roopchand made 19 as Narayan claimed 3-24 and Ally 2-30.
The date and venue for the final will be released later.