THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Sunday launched its 2010 cricket season in the small rural village of Edinburgh, with the Corentyne team defeating the Combined West Berbice/East Bank/New Amsterdam/Canje team by wickets to lift the John Trim Memorial trophy.
The match was organised by the BCB to open the season for what promises to be the busiest year on the cricket field in the history of Berbice cricket, with close to 20 tournaments scheduled from the Under-13 to the senior levels.
Heavy early morning rain forced the umpires to reduce the 40-over contest to 30. The Combined team batted first after they were invited by the Corentyne Team to do so and reached 136 for 7 off their allotted overs, with Edinburgh’s Raid Ally stroking an attractive 35 (6×4),
National Under-19 all-rounder Seon Hetmyer 20, Krisindat Ramoo 15 and wicketkeeper Kwesi Mentore 14 not out supported Ally against the bowling of Berbice off-spinner Steven Latcha who took 3-16 from seven overs.
Eon Hooper supported him with 2-21 from four overs, while national medium pacer Esaun Crandon and Troy Matheison took a wicket each for Corentyne.
Needing to score 137 to win in front of a large and colourful crowd, Corentyne were given a 27-run opening partnership from national opener Sewnarine Chattergoon (18) and his younger brother Harrinarine (13) before West Indies Under-19 pacer Keon Joseph, bowling at express pace, dismissed both of them.
National player Royston Crandon 30, Hooper 15 and national leg-spinner, Devendra Bishu 20 not out all batted well as Corentyne reached 138 for 7 in the 29th over to win the match by three wickets.
Bishu and Troy Matheison 6 not out added 34 for the eight wicket after Corentyne had slipped to 104 for 7 much to the delight of the home team supporters.
Ramoo returned to claim 4-20 with his off spin, while Joseph ended with 2-36 and Ally 1-25 from six overs each.
Chairman of the BCB Competitions Committee and elder statesman of Berbice cricket, Carl Moore, spoke at the presentation ceremony and said the event was a historic one, as it was the first time that the East Bank of Berbice was hosting such an important match.
This was an attempt by the BCB to promote cricket in the rural areas and he praised the Edinburgh Cricket Club and fans for making the match a huge success, while urging all clubs to get themselves prepared for what would be a hectic season.
President of the BCB, Keith Foster, expressed his Board’s delight at the support given by the Edinburgh community and noted that in 2010 greater effort would be made to take the game into the rural areas as the BCB seeks to revive cricket in every area in the ancient county.
Foster explained that as part of the Board’s Tribute to Heroes programme, the season opener would be named after a Berbice Test player each year starting with John Trim in 2010 and Rohan Kanhai next year.
He said this was an effort by the BCB to not only honour the greats, but to get young cricketers to know about those who laid the foundation for Berbice cricket and he challenged all Berbice cricketers and clubs to lift their standards in 2010 and to always strive for the highest level.
Foster expressed gratitude to the cricketers for taking part in the match especially the senior national players who are currently on break from the West Indies First Class Season – Esaun and Royston Crandon, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Devendra Bishoo.
National players Assad Fudadin and Veerasammy Permaul were present at the venue but were rested due to injuries but national pacer Brendon Bess was absent from the match without giving any proper reason for his absence despite widespread promotion by the Berbice Cricket Board about his participation, via the electronic and printed media.