Inter-County Super50… : Dindyal’s half-century sends Demerara into final

A nervy knock, in tense conditions, from Mavendra Dindyal was just what the doctor ordered for defending champions Demerara, who on Sunday ensured they would head to the final to defend their crown next Saturday, after a four-wicket victory over Berbice.
The occasion was the final preliminary match of the 2025 Queensway Senior Inter-County Super50 tournament hosted at the Number 69 Ground in Berbice, where stakes were high, warranting the return of several international stars to their respective county teams.

The hosts won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision which immediately went sour when they lost Junior Sinclair for 3 to Ashmead Nedd at 4-1. Nedd struck again shortly after to remove skipper Kevlon Anderson without scoring, leaving Berbice reeling at 6-2.
Berbice found themselves 23-3 soon after, as Tommani Chester also went cheaply to Richie Looknauth.
Kevin Sinclair (17) and Shimron Hetmyer (16) offered brief resistance, but neither was able to convert starts, both falling to tight spells, Sinclair caught behind off Chanderpaul Ramraj and Hetmyer caught behind off Looknauth. Their dismissals at 31-4 and 47-5 left Berbice teetering.
A 44-run stand for the sixth wicket between young all-rounder Zeynul Ramsammy (39) and Garfield Benjamin (22) became Berbice’s solace. Clinton Pestano later produced a hope-raising 29, but Demerara Captain Matthew Nandu and teenage all-rounder Jonathan Van Lange threw their hats in the ring to help Looknauth clean up Berbice’s tail for 162 in 47.4 overs.
Looknauth was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4-31 from 10 overs while Nedd and Ramraj had two scalps each.
Though the chase seemed like an easy one, Berbice’s bowlers made a game of it, taking Demerara down to the 46th over.
Like their opponents, Demerara’s start was also unsteady, slipping to 30 for 2 inside the first 13 overs after losing openers Nandu (13) and Ushardeva Balgobin (15) in quick succession. Raymond Perez (5) and Captain Tevin Imlach (15) did not last much longer, reducing the defending champions to 63-4.
With wickets falling around him, Dindyal kept a cool head and a steady hand. After Demerara lost their seventh wicket, Dindyal finally found a worthy partner in fellow Windies U19 player Van Lange for an unbeaten 63-run match-winning partnership.
Dindyal anchored the innings with a patient and responsible knock of 61 not out off 88 balls, decorated with two fours and two sixes. At the other end, Van Lange pitched in with 32* off 37 deliveries, as Demerara reached 166-7 in 46 overs.
For Berbice, Junior Sinclair claimed 3 for 48 from 10 overs, while Veerasammy Permaul bowled a typically economical spell, taking 2 for 15 from 10 overs. Omesh Mathura and Kevin Sinclair each picked up a solitary wicket.
The Queensway Senior Inter-County Super50 tournament is set to conclude next Sunday at a yet-to-be- confirmed venue with a rematch of last year’s final, featuring Demerara and Berbice, in what promises to be an exhilarating clash.