Free Weekend and Free Credit to represent Berbice in national semifinals
ROYSTON Crandon’s Free Weekend and Homchand Pooran’s Free Credit have earned the right to represent Berbice in the national semifinals of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-organised Digicel-sponsored Summer Smash Twenty20, after defeating Devendra Bishoo’s Free Talk at the Edinburgh Cricket Club (ECC) ground yesterday.
After heavy early morning showers left the Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) ground waterlogged and in an unplayable condition for yesterday’s alternate day, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) was forced to switch the matches to the ECC ground, where Bishoo’s XI underwent their back-to-back defeats.
In the first game, Bishoo’s Free Talk were placed under tight security by Crandon’s Free Weekend, even though they scored 159-9 from their 20 overs, with Devon Clements hitting the first half-century of the tournament, 53 from 32 deliveries with five fours and two sixes.
Former national Under-19 all-rounder Jonathan Foo struck two sixes and one four in his 20 while Romain Budhram had two fours and one six in his 16, in support to Clements against the bowling of Steven Latcha who took 4-30 and Yodindra Hemnarine with 2-16.
In reply, Crandon’s Free Weekend scored 160-5 from 19.2 overs, thanks to Crandon’s unbeaten 46 scored off 37 deliveries with three fours and one six and a whirlwind unbeaten 42 from Sherwin Murray which took him 19 deliveries to compile and was decorated with three sixes and the same number of fours.
The two added 72 for the sixth wicket from 6.1 overs to steer their side to victory, in spite of Krisendat Ramoo and Keon Joseph grabbing two wickets each for 20 and 23 runs respectively for Bishoo’s Free Talk.
In their second game of the day, Bishoo’s Free Talk were not as free as they were against Crandon’s Free Weekend, as Pooran’s Free Credit restricted them to 114-8 from their 20 overs, with Renwick Batson hitting four fours and one six in his 48-ball 49.
Ramoo offered support with 12, but no other batsman showed resistance to the bowling of Michael Newland who ended with 2-21 for Pooran’s Free Credit, who reached 115-6 from 16.3 overs in reply.
Anthony D’Andrade 36 (23 balls, 3×4; 2×6), Pooran 28* (25 balls, 2×4; 1×6) and Yogindra Thakurdeen 26 (18 balls 5×4) were the leading scorers for Pooran’s Free Credit, even though Foo took 3-19 from his four overs for Bishoo’s Free Talk.
The two victorious sides will collide at the PMCC ground on Wednesday from 13:30 h, while action in the nationwide tournament that is being used as a yardstick to select the national Twenty20 team to contest the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Regional T20 competition, will continue today with Georgetown’s Flex Text opposing East Coast’s Flex Check at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground.