… Albion also through with win over PMCC

AN UNBEATEN and maiden first division century from Guyana Under-19 wicketkeeper/batsman Ashkay Homraj helped Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTGG) make light work of Universal Solutions Bermine to earn a place in the final of this year’s Berbice Cricket Board/Berbice Bridge Company first division knock-out competition last Sunday.In the semi-final which was played at Albion and which was reduced to 45 overs-a-side, Universal Solutions Bermine choosing to bat first saw their openers Hakeem Hinds and former Guyana national youth batsman Leon Williams post 66 for the first wicket from 20.3 overs, before Williams fell for 19.
Berbice all-rounder Devon Clements came in and he and Hinds did well to put on another 75 for the second wicket from 14 overs, before Hinds was run-out for 63 (4×4), enabling Joemal LaFleur to join Clements and add a quick-fire 60 from 7 overs.
Clements was dismissed for 72 (6×4, 2×6) and La Fleur for 33, leaving Bermine still in a good position at 202 for 4 off 40.3 overs, but their quest for quick runs was thwarted by former Berbice leg-spinner Shawn Pereira who removed three potential run-getters in Romario Shepherd, Keion De Jesus and Damien Vantull – before they could get going, as Bermine ended on 238 for 9.
Pereira ended with 4 for 45 and Keon Sinclair 2 for 50 for RHTGG, who began their quest for victory with Homraj and Delbert Hicks, but lost the latter at 24 for 1 in the 7th over, while Jason Sinclair joined Homraj and added 58 for the second wicket before Sinclair was dismissed for 33.
In came Royston Crandon and together with Homraj, took control and put paid to Bermine’s chances by adding 112 in just 11.4 overs, before Crandon fell to Shepherd for 58 (5×4, 2×6) at 194 for 3 in 31.1 overs.
Any hope Bermine might have had, did not materialise as Homraj and Berbice all-rounder Rajiv Ivan took 6.1 overs to hit off the required runs to see RHTGG comfortably home at 241 for 3 in 37.2 overs – Homraj finishing on 102 (7×4, 1×6) and Ivan 24, as Shepherd took 2 for 49.
At Port Mourant Cricket Club ground, the home team chose to take first strike against Albion and found runs hard to come by and were restricted to 138 all out in 49.1 overs with former Guyana Under-19 all-rounder Lloydel Lewis topscoring with 34 and national leg-spinner Amir Khan contributing 30.
Bowling for Albion, Berbice left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and West Indies left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul both returned bowling figures of 3 for 20 while the veteran Andre Percival took 2 for 15.
When Albion replied, the batting lineup with Jonathan Foo and Narsingh Deonarine both missing, soon found themselves on 39 for 3, but David Latchaya pulled them out of danger by adding 64 with Anthony Bramble before Latchaya was dismissed for 22 at 103 for 4.
Bramble found another good partner in Permaul and together they saw Albion to victory at 139 for 4 in 25.5 overs and into the final, with Bramble being unbeaten on 58 and Permaul 13 when victory was achieved.