A solid all round performance from national Under-19 player and man- of- the- match Clinton Pestano inspired defending champions Lower Corentyne to successfully defend their title and retain  the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) organised Diamond Fire and General Insurance sponsored Under-19 Inter-zone title at the  Port Mourant cricket ground to carry home $50,000 first prize championship trophy. Batting first after winning the toss, Lower Corentyne scored 205 in 59.2 of their allotted 60 overs  for their first innings, with Pestano hitting the top score of 46 (3×4, 1×6) and received support from Kandasammy Surujnarine 25, Dominique Rikhi 42, Shawn Pereira 30 and Shailendra Shameer 20.

Bowling for New Amsterdam/Canje left arm spinner Trinson Carmichael grabbed 6 wickets for 44 runs and off spinner Kevin Ramdeen 2 for 55.

In reply, New Amsterdam/Canje, who carried home $30,000 for their second place finish, were bowled out for a meager 102 in 38 overs with only Andel De Jonge 31, Romario De Jonge 29 and Tregon Henry 17 reaching double figures.

National youth left arm orthodox spinner Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai 2 for 15, Pereira 2 for 8, Pestano and Loyydel Lewis who took 2 for 21 each, were the wicket takers for the host.

Batting a second time with a lead of 105 runs, Lower Corentyne reached 177 all out with Motie-Kanhai 35, Bhojnarine Persaud – Pestano 21 and Jamal Jarvis 24 being the principal scorers while off spinner Joemal La Fleur 3 for 31 and Carmichael 2 for 25 led the New Amsterdam/Canje bowling attack the second time around.

Needing to score an impossible 282 to win in less than two hours to record a come back victory, New Amsterdam/Canje reached 50 for 3 before the game was called off, with Kevin Ramdeen scoring 26 before throwing away his wicket off the last ball of the day, as Pestano took 2 for 24.

Public Relations Officer of the Berbice Cricket Board Hilbert Foster hailed the tournament as successful and expressed gratitude to the Management and staff of the sponsors, for their continued investment into Berbice cricket.

Foster also urged the young cricketers to continue to work on their personal game and to always be discipline, focus and dedicated, while saying the BCB was investing heavily in youths as they were the ones who would be expected to carry the torch in the future for the Ancient County.

Berbice Manager of DFGI, Phillip Kowlessar hailed the BCB for hosting another successful tournament and promoting the business of the company in Berbice, while he pledged his Company’s continued involvement in Berbice cricket as they were impressed by the way the game was administered in the county.

He also urged the young cricketers to make sure that they place emphasis on education as it was the foundation to a successful future.