BERBICE, the defending champions, completed a comprehensive 146-run victory over a hapless Essequibo team when their second- round Hand-in-Hand Under-19 Inter-county three-day encounter ended yesterday at the Lusignan Community Centre ground.
Set 270 to win on a difficult pitch and sluggish outfield, the Essequibo batsmen needed to show some grit, but their inept and injudicious batting didn’t help their cause either, and apart from openers, Orlando Jailall (24) and Kevin Christian (31) they were cleaned up for 123.

Scores in the match: Berbice 200 and 131-2; Essequibo 62 and 123.
Earlier, Berbice declared their second innings at 131-2 in 13.2 overs. Alex Algoo and man-of-the-match, Junior Sinclair, struck attacking half-centuries to lead their team to a commanding score.

Algoo, the 18-year-old, struck five fours and four sixes in a 28-ball 52, while Sinclair hit an unbeaten 50 off just 33 balls with three fours and four sixes.
Kelvon Anderson made 11 and was the other batsman dismissed while Seon Glasgow was left unbeaten on 12 when the declaration came. Spinners Amit Persaud and Lance Roberts were the two successful bowlers.

The run chase was always a huge task, and indeed it proved beyond the Essequibians. Apart from the opening stand, the remaining batsmen failed to build on partnerships.
It was a complete bowling effort from the defending champions, with spinner Nigel Deodat claiming 4-45, Sinclair 3-12, Kelvin Umroa 2-23 and Anderson 1-25.
The third and final round starts tomorrow.