ALBION Cricket Club, by virtue of winning their last round playoff match against Tucber Park by 17 runs, booked a place in the final of the 2015 Bobby Deonarine/Tom Gruntzel-sponsored Tenelec Inc. 50-Overs First Division cricket competition.They now await two more matches to know their opponents. Young Warriors will clash with the winners of the Police versus Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets match in the playoff to the final.
At Port Mourant, Albion won the toss and took first strike with former national youth opener and Berbice senior player Kandasammy Surujnarine and all-rounder Balchand Baldeo putting on an opening partnership of 84 before Baldeo went for 30.
Opener Adrian Sukhwa joined Surujnarine and put together a second-wicket partnership of 64. The other notable partnership was 39 between national wicketkeeper batsman Anthony Bramble and the prolific David Latchaya.
Albion ended on 227 all out from their allotted overs as Surujnarine top-scored with 74. He was supported by Bramble 35 and Baldeo and Sukhwa who pitched in with 30 each. Former national youth pacer Niall Smith led the bowling for Tucber Park with 4-40 off nine overs and was supported by fellow pacer Romario Shepherd with 2-34 from 10 overs.
At their turn at the crease, Tucber Park made a spirited reply but ended up at the losing end finishing on 210 all out in 49.2 overs. They enjoyed a fruitful opening stand of 52 between Berbice senior players and former youth cricketers Anthony D’Andrade and Joemal LaFleur before the latter went for 38.
All-rounder Eugene LaFleur joined D’Andrade and put together a solid 91 for the second wicket to put their team in the driver’s seat. However, they lost their way when the third wicket fell at 169 with Albion spin-based attack taking control.
They eventually folded for 210 as Eugene LaFleur top-scored with 56 while D’Andrade stroked 48. David Latchaya finished with 3 for 40 while Berbice youth off-spinner Daniel Lewis and former youth left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie both claimed two wickets.
At Cumberland, Young Warriors won the toss and took first strike in blazing sunshine against West Berbice. They lost Maxie DeJonge in the first over, caught behind off national senior pacer Raun Johnson for no score.
Wahied Edwards joined national opener Shimron Hetmyer and together they put on 40 for the second wicket before Hetmyer was dismissed, caught off Johnson for a rapid 28 which included 6 fours.
Gajanand Singh joined Edwards who was getting settled in the meantime. Together, they put on 103 for the third wicket when Singh was lbw to Andrew Dutchin for 33.
Seon Hetmyer came and went for 19 off the bowling of Berbice senior off-spinner Krishendat Ramoo. Kevin Ramdeen, went for 11 bowled by Johnson. All the while Edwards was batting steadily and was then joined by Ishwar Singh and together they put on an important fifth-wicket partnership of 77.
Edwards completed his century before both batsmen fell in the quest for quick runs. Edwards ended on 116 and Ishwar Singh, 26. Johnson ended with 3-42 and national pacer Keon Joseph 2-53.
In reply, the visitors raced to 38 without loss in 6 overs before losing three quick wickets. Suresh Dhanai took 2 for 17 and Linden Austin 1-0. The West Berbice team conceded the game by inexplicably walking off the field claiming that the pitch was unsafe to continue play.