“Promises fulfilled, mission accomplished.” Those were the words of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster at the presentation ceremony last Sunday night under lights at the Albion Sports Complex.
Clinton Pestano was in blistering form at Albion (Brandon Corlette photo)
The tournament was the 22nd to be successfully completed by the BCB and fulfilled a promise by the hardworking Foster to organise 22 tournaments in 2018. In addition to the 22 completed tournaments, five more tournaments are currently in progress while the BCB is expected to start another four before year end.
The Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets A pair of Clinton Pestano and Kevin Sinclair comprehensively defeated the Albion A pair Jonathan Foo and Kevin Umroa by 51 runs in front of a sizeable crowd. Pestano was at his brutal best, smashing 10 boundaries and two huge sixes in a 16-ball 53. His partner Sinclair was left not out on 11 as their team scored 71 runs from their allocated four overs. Albion A lost Foo, who was bowled by Sinclair, for 5 at 10 for 1 in the second over. A fired-up Pestano then scattered the stumps of Kevin Umroa for 8 as Albion A were bowled out for 20 in 2.3 overs, handing the RHT Gizmos & Gadgets A pair a comprehensive victory.
Earlier that evening in the semi-finals between Rose Hall Town and Tucber Park, Pestano struck 45 to lift his pair to 47 from 3.2 overs after Sinclair was dismissed by the lightning quick Nial Smith for a duck in the first over. In response, Tucber Park could only manage 28 in their four overs, with Mark Barker contributing 20.
The Brian Ramphal First Division Double Wicket Tournament was the first of its kind to be organised in the 79-year history of the BCB. Board President Foster announced that every promise and commitment has been fulfilled by his administration in 2018. Foster expressed gratitude to the United States-based Ramphal for his continued investment in Berbice cricket.
The Double Wicket Tournament was one of several programmes/events organised by the Board with the $1 million donated by Ramphal. Pestano and Sinclair received $75, 000 and a trophy while the second- and third-place teams won $40, 000 and $20, 000 respectively. The pairs were supported by six of their club members in the field while each pair had to bat four overs.
