Universal Solutions Bermine advance to final

UNIVERSAL SOLUTIONS Bermine fought off a stiff challenge from a determined Young Warriors Cricket Club to earn their place in the final of this year’s Berbice Cricket Board/Carib Beer T20 first division last Sunday, overcoming a strong challenge from the Hetmyer brothers. In the lone semi-final that was played at the Port Mourant Cricket Club ground, Bermine kept their nose above water to edge out Young Warriors by three runs in another nail-biting encounter.
Asked to bat first, Universal Solutions Bermine had an opening partnership of 27 from three overs between Hakeem Hinds and Joemal LaFleur who both made 15, before the introduction of Linden Austin tightened the screws and left the opposition on 41 for 2 after 7 overs.
Devon Clements and Romario Shepherd added 41 for the third wicket in 6.2 overs with Clements being dismissed for 29 and Shepherd 28, as their team were in a spot of bother at 105 for 4 in the 16th over, before Keon DeJesus took up the run rate by scoring a rapid 32 off 16 balls.
All-rounder Damien Vantull helped with 19 off 11 balls to propel Bermine to 146 for 6 in 19 overs, before former Guyana T20 star Imran Khan, bowling medium pace, took three wickets in the final over while conceding five runs. Bermine finished on 151 for 8.
Khan ended with 3 for 5 and Kassim Khan offered support with 2 for 22 for Young Warriors, who in reply were off to a slow start after Waheid Edwards was caught off pacer Shepherd.
Seon Hetmyer joined his brother Shimron Hetmyer and they practically took away the initiative from the Bermine team, looking comfortable against the spin bowling while adding 65 in 9.2 overs, before the reintroduction of Shepherd saw the demise of Shimron Hetmyer for 33.
Seon Hetmyer followed soon after for 36 off Stephen Latcha to reduce Young Warriors to 93 for 3 and without addition to the score, Imran Khan (8) was dismissed in the 14th over.
Needing to score at a rate close to 10 runs per over, Young Warriors didn’t give up with Kevin Ramdeen hitting 16 before he was run-out and Ishwar Singh 21 before he was bowled by Jeremy Gordon, leaving their team in need of 15 runs off the final over.
With Shepherd being entrusted with the ball, they only managed 11 and closed at 148 for 6 off their 20 overs, as Shepherd ended with 2 for 18 and Latcha 2 for 29.
Universal Solutions Bermine will now clash with Albion Cricket Club who drew a bye after defeating D’Edward in their playoff, in the final which is set to be played under the lights this Sunday, barring any unforeseen circumstances, at the Albion Sports Complex, with the third place playoff between Young Warriors and West Berbice bowling off first from 13:30hrs.