DEFENDING Champions Belvedere Primary defeated Courtland/Gibralter Primary by eight wickets in the final of the Sueria Manufacturing/Kaieteur Candy’s Inter-Primary School Windball cricket competition, organised by the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club. Last Friday at the Albion Community Centre ground, Courtland/Gibraltar Primary won the toss and batted first. They were restricted to 24 for 6 from their allotted six overs. Belvedere Primary responded with 25 for 4 from 4 overs to secure victory with Arjunen Adolphus hitting an unbeaten 14.
The competition was played on a round-robin basis with the five primary schools within the Lower Corentyne area. Gibraltar/Courtland, Fyrish, Cropper, Albion Back and Belvedere Primary participated.
This competition over the years is being used as part of the Albion Community Centre’s Cricket Club’s effort to attract young cricketers to the club. Top Albion cricketers such as Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Jonathan Foo and Kandasammy Surujnarine have all graduated from this competition.
Earlier in the day, Belvedere Primary defeated Cropper by 8 wickets, Fyrish by 10 wickets and Albion Back Primary by 9 wickets to secure their place in the final in the competition.
Gibraltar Primary also trounced Belvedere by 22 runs, Cropper by 3 wickets and Fyrish Primary by 10 wickets on their way to the final.
In the other matches played, there were also two wins for Albion Back Primary and one win for Cropper Primary while Fyrish Primary were the only team that failed to secure a win in the competition.
At the presentation ceremony which followed, Lloyd Kanden – president of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club commended the five primary schools for their participation and extended special congratulations to Belvedere Primary for retaining their title for the second straight year.
He also expressed gratitude to the Managing Director of Sueria Manufacturing/Kaieteur Candy, Frank Sanichara, a former Albion cricketer, for coming on board to partner with the club in this important competition.
Also speaking at the presentation ceremony were secretary of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, Vemen Walter, and Sales Representative of Sueria Manufacturing/Kaieteur Candy, Yougeshwar Seepersaud.
Walter encouraged the youngsters present to join the historic Albion Community Centre Cricket Club which he claimed is currently is best cricket club in Guyana. He also urged them to focus on their education.
Seepersaud thanked the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club for organising the competition and disclosed that his company is very delighted to be part of the competition.
The winning team received a beautiful trophy and $10 000 while the runners-up also received a trophy.
Arjunen Adolphus received trophies for being the man-of-the-match and the best batsman in the final, together with the best bowler in the competition, having captured nine wickets for 21 runs from ten overs.
His younger brother Harrinarine Adulphus carted off the trophy for being adjudged the competition’s best batsman, scoring 43 runs from five matches.