THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has declared 2010 as one of the most successful and productive years in its 71 years of existence.
According to a review of the BCB’s performance on and off the field done by its Public Relations Officer (PRO) and Chairman of the Special Events Committee, Hilbert Foster, the BCB exceeded expectation with over 70 off-the-field programme/projects and the hosting of the most cricket tournaments by any county board from the Under-13 to senior levels. The efforts of the BCB, Foster noted, have resulted in more commitment from cricketers and club officials while the general public offered support as never before.
The Board in 2010 organised a number of tournaments at the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-23, Second and First Division levels. At the Under-13 level, New Amsterdam/Canje won the Poonai’s Pharmacy Inter-zone title while the Ricks & Sari Agro Industries Under-13 Inter-club is currently being played as the county seeks to unearth new talents.
Lower Corentyne retained the Under-15 Inter-zone title when they easily won the NCN tournament while the Tenelec Inc. Under-15 Inter-club competitions are currently at the quarter-finals stage. There was no Under-17 Inter-club tournament due to a packed schedule but the Republic Bank Under-17 Inter-zone was played and was won by Lower Corentyne.
Under-19 players were involved in the Spready’s Bakery Under-19 Inter-club which is now at the quarter-finals stage and the Diamond Fire & General Insurance Inter-zone tournament, which was won again by Lower Corentyne. At the Under-23 level, Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets defeated Young Warriors in the Peter Lewis Under-23 final which was played in February.
The next Under-23 tournament was scheduled to bowl off in December , but the weather prevented same while the final of the New Building Society Second Division is also scheduled for early December after a highly successful tournament which attracted over 100 teams.
First Division players were involved in the Ramcharitar Construction 40 Overs Tournament, the Tenelec Inc. 50 Overs and the historic Banks Light Beers 3-Day Inter-Zone tournament. Teams would shortly be involved in a 50 Overs Knockout Tournament sponsored by the IPA Health Care Agency.
The BCB in 2010 also organised the John Trim Memorial Match to launch the cricket at the rural cricketing ground of Edinburgh. The long-awaited final of the Demerara Bank Upper Corentyne Second Division Tournament was played off in February with Bush Lot Farm emerging as the Champions.
Berbice cricketers also dominated with the majority of cricketers at the national level. Nine Berbicians represented Guyana at the Champion League in South Africa, Narsingh Deonarine played Test Cricket and ODI for the West Indies, Brandon Bess made his Test debut for the West Indies, while Bess, Assad Fudadin, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo and Jonathan Foo represented the West Indies ‘A’ Team.
At the female level Subrina Munroe, Tremayne Smartt and Shemaine Campbelle played for the West Indies. Campbelle was named the West Indies Female MVP for the WICB Tournament, Foo was the Caribbean T20 Man-of-the-Final while Bishoo was named the Caribbean T20 MVP.