Ramcharran snares hat-trick as Albion and Tucber Park play to a tie  
AFTER an epic struggle, the second semi-final of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)-organised, Tenelec Inc.-sponsored Under-15 limited overs competition between old rivals Albion Community Centre (ASC) and Tucber Park ended in an exciting tie, thanks to a final-over hat-trick from Shiraz Ramcharran who ended with 4-37.
In the match which was played at the Edinburgh ground last Saturday, Albion  won the toss and batted first and were soon in trouble at 26 for 3 with Berbice Under-15 pacer Nial Smith snapping up two of the three wickets to fall, while the other went by the run-out route.
However, Ramcharran who is a Berbice Under-15 player, was joined by David Lachaiya 68 (10×4), and they avoided the imminent collapse, batting masterfully to add 85 for the fourth wicket, before Ramcharran was run-out at 111 for 4.
Another wicket fell quickly at 115 for 5 but Lachaiya, who was still there, got a good partner in Tyrone Pooranauth (27) and together they added another valuable 69 from 14 overs, as their team eventually managed to score 196 for 8 in their 50 overs.
Smith (2-27) and Arlington Adams with 2-38 were the principal wicket-takers for Tucber Park who were left to score 197 against a much-vaunted all-spin attack from Albion.
When Tucber Park began their response, they were 7 for 2, before national Under-15 opener Romario De Jonge (37), joined by Hakeem Hinds 74 (4×4, 2×6), kept the spinners at bay for the next 22 overs, in which they added 80 for the third wicket.  De Jonge was then stumped off Gudakesh Motie.
Hinds continued to hold the ship together, putting on 27 for the fourth wicket with Keirre Henry, who had retired hurt and a further 29 with Martin Singh, while Smith contributed 11.
A 30-run stand with Enoch Carmichael (15), who fell with the score on 191 for 7, helped steady things for Tucber Park, and when Hinds took the score to 196 before he was bowled by Ramcharran, Tucber Park needed one run from four balls.
That run never came as Ramcharran snapped up the last two wickets in the next two balls to complete a telling hat-trick and leave Tucber Park high and dry on 196 in 49.5 overs, on his way to ending with 4-37 from 9.5 overs.
Motie, Lachaiya and Latchman Bishram supported Ramcharran, ending with two wickets each for 24, 32 and 52 runs respectively in the match which was replayed yesterday at the same venue, with the winner meeting Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes in the final on Tuesday.