– Albion CC, RHT Poonai Pharmacy take 1st innings points
The Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) 2019 cricket season was finally restarted on Saturday last at the Port Mourant Ground, after being dormant for four months because of the rainy season. Two matches were played in the BCB/Trophy Stall Under-13 Tournament.
The winning RHT Poonai Pharmacy Under-13 Team
Defending champions Port Mourant Cricket Club were shockingly eliminated from further participation in this particular tournament after losing first innings’ points to Berbice powerhouses Albion Community Centre and the Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy.
This tournament is part of a comprehensive youth development programme being undertaken by the BCB, and 7 teams are participating. The Blairmont Community Centre, Achievers Cricket Club, and the Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club are in Zone ‘A’; while Albion Community Centre, Port Mourant Cricket Club and Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy are in Zone ‘B’. Tucber Park Cricket Club and No. 19 Kendall’s Union Cricket Club have informed the BCB that they are unable to field teams to participate in this tournament.
When Albion Community Centre played their arch-rivals, the Port Mourant Cricket Club batted first and were bowled out for 36, with Afraz Budhoo taking 3 for 12, Retish Nathoor 3 for 5, and Nathaniel Chinapen 2 for 10. They were the destroyers for Albion.
In reply, the Albion side owe their continued participation in the tournament to the healthy contribution of 22 extras, as they were shot out for 48 in 25.4 overs. Yoganand Mohan took 4 wickets for 21 runs, while A. Bharrat took 2 for 4 and G. Seonshanni 2 for 7.
Batting a second time, Port Mourant, with a deficit of 12 runs, were dismissed for 48 from 22 overs. Rampersaud Ramnauth, the younger brother of West Indies Under-15 player Rampertab Ramnauth, top-scored with 24, while R. Bharrat scored 10.
Retish Nathoor, with 3 for 17, and Devin Lalbeharri, with 4 for 13, bowled well for Albion. Needing to score 37 for an outright victory, Albion Community Centre ended on 11 for 2, as Rampersaud Ramnauth and Vishal Williams each took a wicket for Port Mourant Cricket Club.
On Sunday at the Area ‘H’ Ground, Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy amassed 114 all out in 38.3 overs, with Raphael Fraser on 33, Tyrell Hutson on 16, Deeraj Ramjit on 14 and Tyrone Smartt on 14 being the principal scorers. Basil Ali took 4 for 14 and Yoganand Mohan took 2 for 27. They were Port Mourant Cricket Club’s best bowlers.
The defending champion had to have acquired first innings points to stay in the competition. He was unfortunately kept in check by the disciplined RHT Poonai Pharmacy bowling attack, and ended up being bowled out for 81 in 33.3 overs.
Vishal Williams with 26, Rampersaud Ramnauth with 13 and Ganesh Seosohar with 10 were the batsmen to reach double figures. Deeraj Ramjit with 4 for 16, Khemraj Tika with 2 for 25, and Zakir Mohamed with 2 for 8 were the best bowlers for RHT Poonai Pharmacy.
Batting a second time, the home team recorded 42 for 2 from 18 overs, with Tyrell Hutson, on 12, and Tyrese Smartt, on 18 not out, reaching double figures. Ramnauth took both wickets to fall.
