A brilliant all-round performance from National Under-19 player Junior Sinclair spearheaded Rose Hall Town Bakewell to an easy six-wicket victory over arch rivals Albion Community Centre in the final of the historic Raffik Construction 100-Ball Cricket tournament.
Junior Sinclair
Sinclair claimed 3-16 and then returned with the bat to score a brilliant 53 not out as Rose Hall Town Bakewell easily surpassed Albion’s total of 130 all out.
Playing at the Hampshire Ground in the Lower Corentyne District, Albion won the toss and elected to bat.
The top order was subjected to a stern test of fast bowling from former National Under-19 Player Sylus Tyndall. Tyndall trapped Rajesh Kassinauth lbw for a golden duck in the first over, and then had former Guyana Under-19 batsman Adrian Sukhwa caught behind for 8, as Albion slipped to 20 for 2 in the 3rd over.
Albion’s most experienced batsman Sharaz Ramcharran was then sharply caught by Junior Sinclair at long-off off the bowling of Kevlon Anderson as he attempted to clear the small ground. Albion slipped to 60 for 6 as Karran Arjpaul (0), Ritesh Umrao (9) and Kevin Umrao (1) all fell cheaply.
Antonio February, who looked susceptible to the pace of Tyndall, started to prosper with the introduction of spin, and added a crucial stand of 60 with the talented Mahendra Chaitram.
February scored 59 runs, which included three sixes and four boundaries, while Chaitram supported with 28. Once February departed at 120 for 7, the rest of the batting fell apart, as Tyndall finished with 2-24, Junior Sinclair had 3-16, Keith Simpson bagged 2-24 and Kevin Sinclair supported with 2-29.
In reply, RHT raced to 60 – 0 in the fifth over, as openers Kevin and Junior Sinclair tore into the Albion all-spin bowling attack.
Kevin was very aggressive, getting to 43 in just 15 balls, with four huge sixes and four boundaries. Albion was able to break the partnership when Kevin was run out, but Junionr Sinclair carried on to remain unbeaten on 53.
Surrendra Kissoonlall (10), Keith Simpson (11) and Simon Lawson (8*) offered support, as RHT reached to 132-4. Gourav Ramesh took 2-12 for Albion while Umrao had 1-33.
President Hilbert Foster noted that the Berbice Cricket Board created history by being the first to host a 100-ball cricket tournament in Guyana and the Caribbean. The tournament involved eighteen teams from the Lower/Central Corentyne. The main objectives were to promote the game at the grassroots level, to attract more youths to clubs in the area, and to return spectators to the grounds.
Special thanks were extended to sponsor Mohamed Raffik for his investment, while former BCB President Anil Beharry was lauded for the role he played in acquiring the sponsorship.
Representative of Raffik Construction, Daniella Latcha, praised the outstanding work of the Berbice Cricket Board, and declared her company pleased with the mileage it received during the hosting of the well-organised tournament.
She congratulated the champions while wishing Albion Community Centre more success in the future.
The Champions, runners-up and Man of the Finals — Junior Sinclair, were rewarded for their efforts.
