West Indies player Shabika Gajnabi and former Guyana Under-19 player Marian Samaroo both impressed with the bat to spearhead their team, Rose Hall Town (RHT) Metro to an easy 65-runsvictory over West Berbice in a specially-arranged match at the Bush Lot Ground, West Coast Berbice in honour of former Berbice and Guyana female cricketer Natasha Gangoo.
Natasha Gangoo handing over the winning trophy to RHT Metro Female skipper Shabika Gajnabi
The match was organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) with support from the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, in honour of Gangoo, who has retired from the game after two decades of service to the Ancient County.
Rose Hall Town Metro won the toss and elected to bat first after preparation moisture delayed the game by one hour.
They reached an impressive 182 for 7 from their allotted 30 overs. Skipper Gajnabi top-scored with an attractive 73, which included 11 boundaries while Samaroo supported with a solid 50, which included four sweetly-struck boundaries. The pair added 120 runs for the second wicket after former West Indies pacer Tremayne Smartt bowled Kimmone Thomas for 2 in the first over with the score at 6 for 1.
Oma Matadin, 16, and Kassie Munroe supported Gajnabi and Samaroo. Needing to score 183 to lift the Natasha Gangoo Tribute Trophy, the home team found themselves reeling at 13 for 3 in the fourth over as former West Indies left-arm pacer Erva Giddings bowled T George for 0 while Sherika Campbelle was also dismissed for 10.
Smartt returned with the bat to score 36 and received support from Kantana Mentore (21 not out); R Liverpool (22) and Trea Isaacs (10) as West Berbice ended on 117 for 8 off their 30 overs.
Gangoo, playing in her final match, was unbeaten on 5. Plaffina Millington, Kassie Munroe, Sherika Campbelle and Giddings took two wickets apiece for 12, 13, 11 and 10 runs respectively for Rose Hall Town Metro. The Gangoo Tribute Trophy was the second in 2020 for the visitors after they had earlier lifted the BCB/RHTY&SC/Nand Persaud 50-over female tournament.
BCB President Hilbert Foster hailed Gangoo as a pioneer of female cricket in Berbice and described her as a positive role model to the young generation of female players. He expressed gratitude to her for her two decades of service to Berbice, and stated that as long as he remained the BCB President, every hero in the county shall be recognised and honoured. He urged Gangoo to share her vast experience with her younger colleagues to inspire them to greater heights.
A grateful and emotional Gangoo, who handed over the winning trophy to RHT Metro’s skipper Gajnabi, expressed gratitude to the BCB for honouring her on her retirement.
The BCB and RHTY&SC handed over a collection of gifts to the retired player while the teams in the middle honoured her by giving her a special bat salute as she left the ground for the final time.
