ROSE Hall Town Windies Sports Bar (RHTWSB) defeated West Berbice by 23 runs in the semi-finals of the 2009 Busta Champion of Champions tournament played recently at the Area ‘H’ Ground.

The match was reduced to 45 overs due to early morning rain and RHTWSB were invited to bat first after West Berbice won the toss.

RHTWSB were in early trouble after losing Michael Rengasami in the third over, caught by Dennis Webster hooking at pacer Dwayne Duke for nought and the score at 5 for 1.

Opener Renwick Batson and Jason Sinclair then added 37 for the second wicket before Sinclair was bowled by pacer Colin Duke for 3.

Skipper Assad Fudadin then joined Batson and together they took the score to 62 in the 15th over before Batson was run-out in a terrible mix-up with Fudadin for a well-played 43 (3×4, 2×6). Berbice Under-19 opener Eon Hooper and Fudadin then took the attack to the visitors and added 88 runs off 15 overs with Fudadin using his feet well to the spinners.

Off-spinner Krisendat Ramoo in his first over struck an important blow when he had Fudadin caught at the wicket for an aggressive 54 (5×4, 2×6) at 150 for 4 and then left-arm spinner Leroy Bristol deceived former Berbice Under-19 player Michael Hicks to have him stumped for one, at 151 for 5.

Former national middle-order batsman Andre Percival joined Hooper who was bowled by Ramoo for 30 (3×4, 1×6). Percival batted well to score 32 as RHTSWB reached a respectable total of 220 off 44.5 overs. Bowling for West Berbice Eon Hooper took 3 for 37, Leroy Bristol 2 for 34 and K. Ramoo 2 for 38.

Needing to score at just under five runs per over, West Berbice lost opener Colin Duke lbw to pacer Renwick Batson at 12 for one in the fifth over.

But Krisendat Ramoo and skipper Arthley Bailey kept West Berbice in the hunt by adding 62 in 12 overs before Ramoo was caught at long on off Andre Percival for 19.

Veteran Eon Abdel was then bowled by Troy Mathieson for nought at 78 for 3 in the 18th over.

Hard-hitting Keith Fraser and Bailey added 32 for the fourth wicket before Bailey who was dropped four times was brilliantly caught by Eon Hooper off leg-spinner Ravi Narine for 55 (8×4, 1×6).

Keno Gravesande followed soon after, Fudadin taking a difficult catch to dismiss him for 2 off Narine at 114 for 5.

Former national Under-19 player Leroy Bristol was then caught by Troy Mathieson off Fudadin at 123 for 6. Keith Fraser continued to bat well before falling lbw to Mathieson for a magnificent 63. West Berbice eventually were dismissed for 188 in the 43rd over with Mathieson taking 3 for 38 and Ravi Narine 3 for 37.

Both teams were lectured on HIV/AIDS during the lunch break by a visiting UNICEF team.

RHTWSB now await the winner of the second semi-final clash between Young Warriors and Rose Hall Canje to reach in the final.