GCB Female Inter-County 50-Over tourney: Smartt, spinners, power Berbice to second win
Action in the third round of the GCB Female Inter-County 50-Over Tournament continued yesterday with Berbice demolishing Select XI in a 35-over affair, compliments of Tremayne Smartt and tactical spin bowling at the Providence Stadium.
Berbice were a force to be reckoned with in this match
Neither team was a stranger to the other, as they had faced each other in the T20 format of the tournament, which Berbice had won in 35 minutes. This encounter looked like a repeat of the same, as Tremayne Smartt was able to use the pitch to her advantage.
With rain delaying the toss, and with overcast conditions prevalent, Smartt was practically unplayable. She maintained her line and length, and threw in the occasional yorker as she navigated the powerplay overs with ease.
Tremayne Smartt was adjudged player of the match with 4-3
Thereafter, the spinners entered the fray, and Plaffiana Millington, Shanetta Grimmond and Ashmini Munisar strangled their opponents by drying up the flow of runs.
Haseena Mohammed injured herself in running a single and retired hurt, thus pushing Select XI on the back foot, and with the score on 39-8. The last batter took to the crease to try and do her side some justice, but in the end it was of no use, as Berbice were too much to handle.
The Select XI side featured five ducks, despite 20 extras from the Berbice side. Bowling for Berbice, Tremayne Smartt took 4-3, Shanetta Grimmond took 2-3, Plaffiana Millington took 1-3, and Ashmini Munisar took 2-1 as the Select XI were restricted to 40-9 in 17 overs.
Heading into the chase of 41 runs for victory off 35 overs, the mighty Berbicians chased down their target in 4.1 overs, with Shanetta Grimmond and Katana Mentore decimating a weak Select XI bowling unit and ending unbeaten on 24 off 13 balls (3×4,1×6) and 16 off 12 (2×4) respectively.
The action continues today at 09:00h with Essequibo taking on Select XI, and tomorrow with Berbice duking it out with Demerara.
