SKIPPER of the victorious Berbice team which humiliated Demerara by 107 runs to win the 2009 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) El Dorado Inter-county tournament Assad Fudadin said the victory was sweet revenge for his team’s loss in the preliminary round.

“After our dismal showing with the bat in the preliminary round match at Wales, we sat down and looked at our positives, from which we built our confidence coming into this match today (Saturday) and we knew that once we stick to our game plan, we would be victorious, and this is sweet revenge for that loss.”

Berbice’s skipper Assad Fudadin receives the El Dorado trophy from Demerara Distillers Limited Wines and Spirits brand manager Maria Munroe.

The 25 year old Fudadin who is also a national middle order batsman and was appointed skipper of the senior team this year asked his batsmen to deliver and they did so perfectly, with openers Sewnarine Chattergoon who struck a defiant century and Richard Ramdeen adding 127 for the first wicket.

“They (Demerara) shook our batting lineup early at Wales, where Barnwell and Carmichael was getting the ball to do things, but one of the matters which surfaced from our meeting after that game was the batting of our top order which did not click in that game.

I had the confidence that they would have done so today, since ‘Chattas’ (Chattergoon) and the rest of the guys expressed confidence going into the match and I knew that once our bowlers got a decent total to work with, Demerara would find themselves struggling against our attack” said Fudadin.

He continued, “Prior to the start of the game, I had a look at the pitch and was looking at a score in the vicinity of 275- 290, but to get 43 more runs, thanks to the efforts of ‘Ringo’(Deonarine) and the middle order who built on the start provided by the openers.”

“Our bowlers must come in for some praise, as they did an excellent job with the ball taking wickets at intervals and with a different score from what we made at Wales, we knew it would he an herculean task for Demerara to achieve, especially against our slower bowlers in Bishoo, Permaul, Royston Crandon, Deonarine and Chattergoon.”

His next move is to win the GCB four day competition for Berbice, thus completing an historic double in his first year as captain of the Ancient County team.

“As a young cricketer growing up and hearing about the feats of Basil Butcher, Clayton Lambert, Andre Percival and all the other illustrious cricketers from Berbice who led the side, I always wanted to be alongside them and do so one day.

Being named captain of the team this year helped me realise that dream and to win the El Dorado trophy this year, is a tremendous boost but what would make it better would be claiming the four day title as well and with the present form of the team, I am confident we can do so and complete the double.”

Fudadin is hoping to take his present form with the bat into the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President’s Cup limited overs tournament which is set to commence in two weeks time right here in Guyana, once he finds favour with the selectors.

“I am full of confidence with the bat at the moment and all I want to do is go out there and put my best foot forward for Guyana. We have not been doing well at the Regional level over the past year, as we failed to make the final four in the upcoming tournament last year, as well as finish in the cellar position of the four day competition.

Taking into consideration the present form of our West Indies players in the caliber of Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dowlin, Royston Crandon and Deonarine and with a support staff in the caliber of Chattergoon, Christopher Barnwell and myself amongst others who are all expected to be in the lineup for Guyana in this upcoming tournament, there is no way we cannot make it to the final four and even the finals and lift the trophy.”

“Such a feat would be a boost in the arm of cricket in the country as at the moment, we are going through a drought when it comes to success and personally, I would like to make an impact with the bat if I am selected, to help restore some pride and joy to Guyana’s cricket” said Fudadin.

The selectors, who were present at the final met and selected a 20 man squad from which the final 14 will be selected to represent Guyana who is grouped with Barbados, Leeward islands and the West Indies Under-19 teams in zone B.