RHT Pepsi and Blairmont to clash in historic final

BCB/New York Business Group U-19 Tournament…

Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club pushed aside Albion Community Centre Cricket Club on Sunday last to join defending champions Rose Hall Town Pepsi in the final of the 2018 edition of the Berbice Cricket Board/New York Business Group Under-19 Inter-Club Cricket Tournament.

Albion Community Centre and their arch rival, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTYSC), MS, have dominated Berbice Cricket over the last decade, and have jointly contested most of the finals at the different levels.

Playing at the Albion Ground, Blairmont won the toss and elected to field first. Heavy overnight rain caused a three-hour delay in the start of play, and the match was reduced to 30 overs a side. Albion made a mess of their innings batting first, being packed away inside 24 overs for just 91 runs.

Ramesh Kassinauth (37) and Antonio February (20) batted well, but without any support from their teammates. While Nigel Deodat had 3-20, Seon Glasgow and Marvin Prashad both had 2 – 10 for the opposition.

In response, Blairmont reached 94 for 3 from 18 overs, with Glasgow returning with the bat to blast a quick-fire 55 not out, supported by Javed Karim with 14. Karran Arjpaul claimed 2 – 23 and Beesham Surujnarine 1 – 29 for Albion.

Meanwhile, National middle order batsman Kevlon Anderson struck a majestic 125 to spearhead Rose Hall Town Pepsi to an imposing 235 for 6 from 35 overs. Overnight rain also affected the start of this match, but for only two hours, and the match was reduced to 35 overs per side.

Anderson received support from Berbice Under-19 all-rounder Keith Simpson, who scored 35; and Berbice Under-17 batsman Chanderpaul Govindan, who scored 25. Rommel Reitman was Tucber Park’s best bowler, with 3 for 41; while Nicholas Haywood, Brandon Corlette and Abdul Ramsammy claimed a wicket apiece with 38, 42 and 28 respectively.

The visitors were then restricted to 158 for 9, with Reitman scoring an aggressive 46 and Malcolm Mickle (35), Brandon Corlette (18) and Zeymul Ramsammy (14*) being the only batsmen to reach double figures. National Under-19 off-spinner Kevin Sinclair took 3 for 15, while Junior Sinclair supported with 2 for 13.

The finale is scheduled to be played on Friday and Saturday at the Albion Cricket Ground from 13:30hrs. It will be concluded under lights at 20:30 hours. For the first time in Berbice, pink balls would be used.

The match promises to be thriller, with both teams sporting several promising and highly talented players.

The triumphant team will be $100,000 richer, while the runner-up will have to settle for $50,000. A man-of-the-match award is also up for grabs.