… face RHT Farfan and Mendes in final today
TUCBER Park Cricket Club created a major upset in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/Tenelec Inc.-sponsored Under-15 tournament, when they defeated favourites, Albion Sports Club, on first innings to reach the final of the tournament.

By virtue of their upset win, Tucber Park have earned the right to meet Rose Hall Town’s Farfan and Mendes Under-15 team in the final which will be played at the Area ‘H’ ground today.

In the semi-final which was played at the Albion ground, Tucber Park, batting first after winning the toss, scored 131 all out in 40 of their allotted 60 overs, with Berbice Under-15 player Jermain Henry top-scoring with 56 (7×4) and Orlando Tanner supporting with 22.

National Under-15 leg-spinner Gudakesh Motie Kanhai took 5-36 from 18 overs while off-spinner Veerapen Permaul, the younger brother of national left-arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul, took 2-27 for Albion.

The host team, in reply, were dismissed for 110 with Surujnarine Kandasammy 36 (2×4) and Rajendra Dasrat 31 being the principal scorers against the bowling of left-arm spinner Kevin Pellew (3-11), off-spinner Andel Younge (3-14) and fast bowler Orlando Tanner who took 3-36.
Batting a second time with a first innings lead of 21, Tucber found themselves in trouble at 44-8 at the scheduled 17:00 h closing time.
Only Jermain Henry with 13 managed to reach double figures, as Motie completed a good match with the ball, when he took 4-25 for a match-haul of 9-61, while Permaul grabbed 3-13, but their spirited efforts was not enough to prevent Tucber Park from making the final.

A close and exciting final is expected as both teams are evenly matched on paper but with the Berbice spin twins, Shawn Perreira and Loyden Lewis, the home team would have a slight advantage on a pitch expected to be spin-friendly.

Lewis will spearhead the Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes batting line-up and will receive support from the in-form Nicholas Cameron who scored a century in the semi-final, Clifford Wong, Shawn Perreira, Neil Pike, Jamal Brusch, Lenny Sanichar and all-rounder Jamal Jarvis.

Pacers Jarvis and Ryan Mootoo would share the new ball with support from a spin attack consisting of leg-spinners Shawn Perreira, Kumar Madray and off-spinners Loyden Lewis, Clifford Wong and Jamal Brusch.

Tucber Park would depend heavily on Henry, Tanner, Nial Smith, Akeem Hinds and Devendra Jainabi to score heavily, to give their bowling attack which will be led by Tanner, with support from fellow fast bowler Judason Bess, Younge and Pellew, a total to defend.

The match starts at 09:00 h, with both teams being allotted 60 overs in their first innings. The winner of the tournament would receive $30 000 and a trophy, the runner-up $15 000 and the Man-of-the-Finals $5 000.