…-Dowlin in but no Chanderpaul for defending champions
A confident looking Berbice Inter-county team led by national middle order batsman Assad Fudadin takes on defending champions Demerara in a day-night final of this year’s Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/El Dorado Inter-county tournament at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence from 13:30h today.

Demerara strengthened their batting lineup for this final, with the inclusion of West Indies batsman Travis Dowlin and while there was a remote possibility of local fans getting the opportunity of seeing Shivnarine Chanderpaul in action today, such would not be as the star batsman has not arrived in the country following his successful stint with English county side Durnham.

In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport after his team Rose Hall Town Windies Sports Bar (RHTWSB) defeated North Essequibo in the GCB/Neal and Massy nationwide semifinals on Wednesday, Fudadin showered praise on his lower order batsmen for their resilient showing against the same opponents in their preliminary round match last Sunday.

“We lost early wickets the last time we met them, but a fight back from our lower order batsmen led by Foo (Jonathan) and Crannie (Esaun Crandon), placed us in a position to put up a fight and we are viewing that as a positive which we will be taking into the final on Saturday (today).”

Berbice, who won the toss and batted first, found the going tough against Christopher Barnwell and Kellon Carmichael and were shakily placed on 17-4 in the ninth over, before Foo and Narsingh Deonarine added 48 for the fifth wicket, before Crandon and Foo added a further 69 for the seventh before they were bowled out for 195 from 48.2 overs, to which Demerara replied with 197-3 from 45.1 overs.

Fudadin continued to state, “We want to forget what happened in our last game against them and take the positives however small they are out of it into the final. This time around, I am hoping our batting click against their bowling attack posting a decent total giving, thus the bowlers something to work with.

Our opening bowlers did not have a good start, but the spinners did a tremendous job against the Demerara batting lineup, even though they did not have much to work with. We were not trying to restrain them, but rather take wickets with an attacking and at the same time defensive attitude, as the runs was not there to play with.”

The Ancient County batting will be led by Fudadin, Foo, the inform Sewnarine Chattergoon who blazed his way to an unbeaten and authoritative 85 against Essequibo, along with West Indies limited overs batsman Royston Crandon and his elder brother Esaun, Narsingh Deonarine and wicketkeeper-batsman Delbert Hicks who looked solid and impressive during his brief stay in the preliminary round match.

Karamdat Bissoondial and Krisindat Ramoo and Rajiv Ivan are batsmen who are eagerly awaiting their chance to showcase their talent for the eyes of the national selectors, but may have to wait a bit longer, as there is a strong possibility the final eleven will be the same one which played the preliminary round matches.

National spin twins Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo are capable lower order batsmen, so too is West Indies ‘A’ team fast bowler Brandon Bess, hence Barnwell, Carmichael and company will have their work cut out for them in today’s day/night fixture.

Berbice’s bowling will depend on Esaun Crandon and Bess with the new ball, with worthy support from Permaul who has been entrusted with the responsibility of Fudadin’s deputy, Bishoo, Chattergoon, Deonarine and Royston Crandon.

But with a batting lineup which includes Barnwell and Rajendra Chandrika who posted 132 from 22.3 overs for the first wicket in last year’s historic day/night final, with the former coming away with the man of the match award in that game for his top score of 77 in his team’s score of 204 from 34 overs.

Meanwhile, Dowlin has been added to the Demerara lineup, and along with Shemroy Barrington who loves the ball coming onto the bat early in his innings, skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan, Leon Johnson, Gajanand Singh, Zaheer Mohammed and to an extent Steven Jacobs, a tough day in the office can be anticipated for the Berbicians.

Troy Gonsalves, Damian Van Tull who hails from Berbice, vice captain Zaheer Mohammed and Sauid Drepaul are worthy customers with the bat, which places the defending champions in a good position to achieve any total given to them by Berbice.

Barnwell and Carmichael can expect valuable support with the ball from Mohammed, Drepaul and Jacobs whose bowling has come on leaps and bounds in this year’s tournament, which included a maiden five wicket haul against Essequibo in the GCB four day tournament.

The action will get underway at 13:30h under the supervision of Clyde Duncan and Daverteeth Anandjit with Zabir Zakier performing the duties of third umpire and with an admission fee of $500 along with free parking and live music flowing from the speakers of Fusion Sound System on the mound, a party atmosphere can be expected both on and off the field of play.

Teams for today’s final
Demerara from: Ramnaresh Sarwan (captain), Zaheer Mohammed, Rajendra Chandrika, Shemroy Barrington, Christopher Barnwell, Travis Dowlin, Steven Jacobs, Gajanand Singh, Leon Johnson, Joseph Perry, Sauid Drepaul, Damien Van Tull, Troy Gonsalves, Joseph Perry and Kellon Carmichael.

Berbice from: Assad Fudadin, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Karamdat Bissoondial, Royston Crandon, Richard Ramdeen, Narsingh Deonarine, Jonathan Foo, Delbert Hicks, Esaun Crandon, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Rajiv Ivan, Krisindat Ramoo, Steven Latcha and Brandon Bess.