GCB 50 Overs Inter-County Female Competition: Centuries from Gajnabi, Mentore, Grimmond propel Berbice to easy win over E/bo
The first match of the GCB Inter-County 50 Overs Female Competition got underway at the National Stadium at Providence, EBD with Berbice United thrashing Essequibo with ease, compliments of centuries from Shabika Gajnabi (129), Katana Mentore (159), and Shenetta Grimmond (101*), which propelled their side to a mammoth 519-3.
Shabika Gajnabi celebrating her century
At the start of play, Berbice lost Marian Samaroo for a single run, and Essequibo sought to capitalize, but were faced with a 250-plus partnership between Gajnabi and Mentore. The duo picked up boundaries with ease, and Essequibo had no response.
Eventually Gajnabi fell for 129 off 91 deliveries, her innings having included 21 boundaries.
But when the important wicket of Gajnabi fell, Mentore carried on with the powerhouse Grimmond, and they upped the ante, with Mentore passed her 150 and continuing to play her shots.
Katana Mentore scored 159
However, when at 159, Mentore was dismissed by Kumarie Persaud, her innings having included 18 boundaries.
Sherica Campbelle then occupied the crease, but only to support Grimmond, who opened her shoulders and flexed her muscles as she blasted an unbeaten 101 off 66 balls, with 11 boundaries at a strike rate of 153.
Campbelle chipped in with 43 off 30 balls as Berbice ended on 519-3 in their allotted 50 overs. Analeisa D’Aguiar bagged 2-114 and Kumarie Persaud bagged 1-81.
Mentore and Gajnabi put together 250-plus runs for the second wicket
Heading into the chase, Essequibo needed 520 runs off 300 deliveries. For them it was an impossible total, and it soon found them staring down the barrel of a gun. Showcasing that they were not only good with the baat but with the ball as well, the Berbicians’ bowling kept eating away at the Essequibo side, eventually dismissing them for 38 in 17.3 overs.
Gajnabi was awarded ‘player of the match’ for scoring 129 runs and taking 3 wickets for 2 runs
No Essequibo player was able to pass the 10-run mark, as Berbice bowlers Shabika Gajnabi, with 3-2; Sherica Campbelle, with 2-9; and Erva Giddings, with 2-15, decimated their innings; while Ashmini Munisar and Shenetta Grimmond each bagged a wicket.
