The Rose Hall Town (RHT) Pepsi A team on Saturday defeated the Bush Lot United Club by seven wickets to advance to the semi-finals of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Smalta Under-19 cricket tournament for 2026.
The victory marked the 20th time the team have reached the BCB semi-finals at the Under-19 level since Pepsi began sponsoring the team in 2004. This year the team will be aiming for their seventh overall title.
Playing at the Bush Lot United Ground in West Berbice, the visitors won the toss and inserted the home team to bat in brilliant sunshine. Openers Lakeraj Hemraj and Akash Ramdewar added 22 runs in four overs before Ramdewar was trapped lbw by fellow national U16 team-mate Leon Reddy for eight in the fourth over. Afraz Ali joined Hemraj, but was soon sent packing by the pacy Raffel Mckenzie, bowled for one, at 22 for 2 in the fifth over. National U16 all-rounder Altaz Ali joined Hemraj and took the score to 58 for 2 in the 11th over before Ali was bowled by national left-arm spinner Jayden Ganpat for 15. Hemraj was then stumped by Tameshwar Deonanan for 21 (2×4) as the visiting team spinners spun webs around the home team batters. None of the remaining batsmen reached double figures as Bush Lot were bowled out for 74 in 19 overs. Berbice U19 leg spinner Asif Marimuthoo took four wickets for nine runs from four impressive overs while skipper Kumalchand Ramnarace took three wickets for no runs from one over with his off spin. Rafeal Mckenzie, Reddy and Ganpat took one wicket apiece for 12, 17 and 10 runs respectively.
Needing to score 75 runs from their allotted 50 overs to advance to the semi-finals, the visitors lost Jonathan Hicks and Ramzam Koobeer early to be 20 for 2 in the fourth over. Hicks was trapped lbw by Ramdewar while Koobeer was caught in the slips off the hard-working Ramdewar for six, to give the home team some hope. Deonanan joined Matthew Perreira and together they added 48 for the third wicket before Deonanan was run out for 12 at 68 for 3 in the 14th over. Perreira remained unbeaten for a well-played 40 with one massive six and four boundaries when victory was achieved in the 15th over. Reddy was the other unbeaten batsman, on one not out. Ramdewar was the only successful bowler for the home team with 2 for 21 from four overs.
The Rose Hall Town Pepsi U19 team have been sponsored by the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) since 2004 under the international soft drink brand Pepsi.
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