BERBICE retained the GTM Under-19 three-day title against Demerara after an anti-climactic draw and after losing two sessions of cricket on the last day due to rain at the Guyana National Stadium.

With play commencing at 15:00 h, Demerara overnight batsmen, Amir Khan and Seon Daniels, strolled to the crease, after a Demerara batting collapse the previous day, with the score on 69-7.

Captain of the victorious Berbice squad, Anthony Bramble, receives the GTM Trophy from CEO Roger Yee at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday. (Storme Moore photos)

However, after 31.2 overs Demerara were bowled out for 108, setting Berbice a modest target of 114 to achieve after they were five in arrears from the first innings.

Berbice, in reply reached 32-3 after 12 overs before bad light stopped play at 17:21 h. Man-of-the-series Jonathan Foo was left unbeaten on ten while Seon Hetymyer was on one. Andre Stoll had Harrinarine Chattergoon beautifully caught off a blinder by Khan at gully for four, the ball after he played an exquisite cover drive (4-1).

Joemal La Fleur was lbw for one off the bowling of Daniels (14-2) and Eon Hooper also went back to the pavilion via the lbw route for 13 (28-3) off the bowling of Rajindra Naikbaran.

Earlier, Khan and Daniels batted with the same caution they displayed the day before, as they eked out singles along with the occasional boundaries to reach 108. The negative approach by the two only resulted in Daniels being run-out after adding three runs to his overnight score of two when the score was 81.

Khan upped the tempo after Daniels’ departure, with Totaram Bishun, but was bowled soon after for a patient knock of 35 that came off 162 balls from 145 minutes and included three boundaries. Bishun also stuck around for his unbeaten 14 from 60 balls in 51 minutes but got no support from Ricardo Devers who was bowled by Trinson Carmichael for one.

Carmichael finished with figures of 2-5 (10.2), Foo 3-37 (29) and Somai 2-33 (17) while Keyron Fraser got one.

After the match Foo received the man-of-the-series prize for picking up 23 wickets and amassing 152 runs from three matches. His best figures in the tournament were 9-62 against Essequibo and his highest score of 131 was achieved in the first innings.

Winner Takes All! Jonathan Foo receives one of his three prizes from CEO of GTM Roger Yee after defending champions Berbice retained the three-day title against Demerara.

He received three bats for copping the prizes of Best Batsman, Best Bowler and Man-of-the-Series. President of the Guyana Cricket Board also implored him to “stamp his authority in the upcoming Regional Under-19 Tournament” in Jamaica from July 8 to August 6.

He also stated that the GCB is thankful for the sponsorship of the GTM, now in its 30th year. CEO of GTM stated that the company will continue to support the cricket fraternity in Guyana and he hopes one day Foo becomes the world number one batsman like Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Meanwhile, the GCB selectors have named 26 players for trials that are scheduled for next week at a date to be announced later. Selectors urged players to lift their game because they were not entirely satisfied with the performance of the players and their attitude.

Players are: Jonathan Foo, Trevon Griffith, Ryan Rajmangal, Amir Khan, rajindra Naikbaran, Dexter Solomon, Andre Stoll, Seon Daniels, Totaram Bishun, Quincy Ovid-Richardson, Seon Hetymyer, Sahadeo Somai, Anthony Bramble, Keyron Fraser, Manooj Poorannauth, Alex Amsterdam, Keon Joseph, Eon Hooper, Royston Alkins, Herrell Greene, Navin Singh, Ronsford Beaton, Floyd Henry, Jeetendra Sookdeo, Rovindra Parsram and Anthony Adams.