Mentore, Grimmond, Millington, Mattadeen decimate Select XI

By Timothy Jaikarran

The third round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Female Inter-County T20 tournament got underway with some good news and some bad news. The first match of the day between Demerara and Essequibo was abandoned owing to overnight rain and a wet outfield, while game two saw Berbice decimate a Select XI in a 15-over affair.
Select XI won the toss and chose to bowl, and Berbice post 131-3 in 13.4 overs. Maria Samaroo was the first wicket to fall as she was caught off the bowling of Karishma Ramnauth for 11. Shortly after, Shabika Gajnabi was removed for 13 with the score at 64-2. But the Berbicians weren’t worried; they played their natural game as Katana Mentore and Shenetta Grimmond took to the crease and began a selected assault on the Select XI. They dealt in boundaries, frustrating their opponents. Eventually, Mentore fell for a well-played 44 off 37 deliveries. Grimmond, 36 not out, kept things ticking before the rain came at over 13.4; nevertheless, the Berbice side placed a formidable total on the board. Karishma Hardat bagged 2-17 while Tricia Hardat chipped in with 1-27.
With the rain having its say earlier, the overs were reduced via the Duckworth-Lewis Method, thus leaving Select XI a target of 88 in 8 overs. The chase went horribly wrong from the get go, nothing went right for the Select XI as Plafinna Millington bagged two wickets in the first over to leave them reeling at 0-2. Ashmini Munisar then bagged the third wicket and from there, the rest was history; wickets just kept tumbling. Oma Mattadeen bagged a couple, Millington added one more to her rally and Shenetta Grimmond and Kimmone Thomas chipped in with one each. Select XI were restricted to 19-8 in their allotted eight overs.