GCB U21 Inter-Club 50 Over Tournament: RHT Pepsi A defeat Albion A in low-scoring match

…Rampersaud, Budhoo claim five-wicket hauls

Archrivals Rose Hall Town Pepsi A (RHT Pepsi A) and Albion Community Centre (ACCCC) confronted each other in a match of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-21 Inter-Club 50 Over tournament played last Friday at the Area H Ground on the Corentyne.

What eventuated was a low-scoring match in which the RHT Pepsi A was able to register a defeat on the ACCCC, and a bowler from either side was able to claim a five-wicket haul.

The match was delayed for half an hour by the absence of umpires, but the action commenced after both teams agreed to each provide an umpire. Thereafter, there was no major incident.
With the pitch being full of moisture due to overnight showers, ACCCC won the toss and elected to field. RHT Pepsi A were immediately set back when Simon Gaffoor was trapped LBW by left arm spinner Kumar Deopersaud without troubling the score, and were eventually bowled out for 100 runs made in 28.5 overs.
National U17 batsman Romesh Bharat contributed 21, Jeremy Sandia 26, and Jonathan Rampersaud 18. Sandia and Rampersaud added 30 for the 4th wicket before Rampersaud was unfortunately run out while he was well set.
Off spinner Afraz Budhoo returned impressive figures of 5 for 18, leg spinner F. Baksh took 2 for 13, and off spinner Leon Cecil took 1 for 35.
Needing to score 101 from 50 overs, ACCCC lost opener Tameshwar Mangal LBW to off-spinner Jonathan Rampersaud for nought in the first over.
The impressive Ari Afrizal Kadir was then caught at mid-on by Romesh Bharat off Matthew Pottaya for 10, and Berbice Under-19 player Damion Cecil was bowled by former national player Jeremey Sandia for 9 to leave ACCCC at 16 for 3 in the fifth over.
The elegant Afraz Budhoo and Leon Cecil added 16 for the fourth wicket before Rampersaud trapped him LBW for 9 to leave ACCCC reeling at 34 for 4. They were eventually bowled out for a meagre 63 in 21.4 overs as the RHT Pepsi A trio of national junior spinners applied pressure from both ends. Rampersaud took 5 for 26 from 9.4 overs, Pottaya took 2 for 19 off 6 overs, and Sandia took 1 for 9 from 6 overs.