WEST Berbice opener Colin Duke smashed a brilliant unbeaten 103 but it was not enough to stop his team from going down to Rose Hall Community Centre by eight runs as the 2009 Tenelec 50-Overs first division cricket competition continued last Saturday in Berbice with two of the three scheduled matches.

Duke smashed four fours and two sixes in a responsible knock as West Berbice, needing 11 runs for victory in the last over with three wickets in hand, were destroyed by a hat-trick from medium pacer Rafeek Kassim, crashing to 214 all out in exactly 40 overs, replying to the formidable 224 for seven in their allotment of 40 overs made by Rose Hall Community Centre, in a match cut short by 10 overs per side due to overnight rain.

After scampering two singles off the first two deliveries in the final over, Kassim then produced a dot ball, before claiming the last three wickets in three balls, in a dramatic last over as the visitors were sent packing after being on 214 for seven at the end of the 39th over.

Apart from Rose Hall Community Centre, who have now taken their points tally to 5 from four matches, joining in position with West Berbice and two points behind Police who are leading Zone ‘B’ on 7 points from four matches, there was also a win for Blairmont Community Centre against Young Warriors.

The lone Zone ‘A’ fixture between Rose Hall Town Windies Sports Bar (RHTWSB) and Scotsburg United was completely washed out.

In scores from the matches played, at the Rose Hall Community Centre ground, in Canje, the home team, winning the toss and taking first strike, were led to their total mainly through a well-calculated 80 from Rocky Bipat (six fours and three sixes) and solid knocks from Vishal Mohabir (39) and Romesh Munna (38) not out.

Off-spinner Krisindat Ramoo snared three for 50, bowling for West Berbice.

In the West Berbicians’ effort, apart from Duke, Ramoo contributed 47, as Kassim ended with three for 21 and medium pacer Sanjay Khan two for 33.

Over at Blairmont, in a match reduced to 20 overs per side because of rain, Blairmont Community Centre beat Young Warriors by 53 runs.

Sent in to bat, Blairmont reached 138 for seven in their allotted 20 overs with Romesh Budhram leading the way with 45 and Heeralall Brijlall 42.

Left-arm spinners Anil Beharry and Charran Singh pocketed two wickets each for 18 and 25 respectively, while off-spinner Farouk Hussain had two for 26.

Young Warriors in reply were routed for 85 in 18.4 overs with Hussain (24) and Seon Hetymer (17) being the only batsmen to offer some amount of resistance.

Bisnarine Basdeo bagged three for 11 while there were two wickets each for fellow off-spinners Karamdat Bisondial and Budhram for 16 and 18 each.

Rose Hall Town and Albion Community Centre are already through to the semi-finals as winner and runner-up of Zone B.