Ivan powers RHTGG to title past ASC
THANKS to a man of the match performance from Rajiv Ivan, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTGG) were able to defeat their nemesis Albion Sports Club (ASC) by 36 runs last Sunday at the Port Mourant Community Centre ground, to lift this year’s Berbice Cricket Board organized Ramcharitar Construction Services sponsored first division limited overs title.
Losing the toss and being asked to take first strike in a contest which was reduced to 35 overs a side after a three hour delay created by damp spots in critical areas on the pitch, RHTGG reached 159 for 7 from their 35 overs, thanks to Ivan’s robust 64 (5×4, 2×6).
The right hand off spinner who has been a trump card in recent times for the Area ‘H’ team, returned to scalp 3 for 21 including the prized wicket of former West Indies left handed batsman Narsingh Deonarine in his first over for 22, as ASC were dismissed for 123 from 27.1 overs.
Renwick Batson (14) and Delbert Hicks (24) two former national Under-19 players, carried their side to 27 in the first seven overs, before Batson who had struck Michael Naidu for four through point, followed by another to third man off Satesh Dwarka, was caught by Andy Mohan off Dwarka.
Hicks did not let the demise of Batson deter him, as he dispatched Naidu over midwicket twice for six, before the introduction of Veerapen Permaul, the younger brother of Guyana and SAGICOR HPC left arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul, applied the brakes to RHTGG scoring.
He removed Hicks who was taken by Shiraz Ramcharran at long on, engineered the run out of Dominique Rikhi (09) whose respone to a Khemraj Mahadeo’s call for a single was late, while Mahadeo himself was bowled by Ramcharran for 2 as he looked to go over the top.
Ivan strolled to the wicket at the fall of Rikhi’s wicket and he too missed being run out by Permaul, who failed to gather the return from Deonarine after being sent back by Mahadeo, while Mohan granted him a life when he failed to affect a stumping chance off Ramcharran.
Ivan said thanks by hitting Deonarine through wide midwicket for four, while Permaul was sent crashing with disdain for two more fours and Ramcharran over long on for six as he upped his team, which was being led by 16 year old Shawn Pereira in the absence of Assad Fudadin and Royston Crandon, run rate.
He raced to his 50, much to the delight of his teammates and supporters who filled every vantage point in the venue to witness the enthralling encounter between two rival teams, and when his innings was brought to a close caught by Permaul at long on off Deonarine at 137 for 6, he had done an important job with the bat for RHTGG.
Jason Sinclair contributed 24 before he was bowled by Deonarine, while Eon Hooper and Shailendra Shameer were unbeaten on 3 and 7 respectively when RTHGG’s overs ran out while Permaul and Deonarine took two wickets each for34 and 38 runs respectively for ASC.
When ASC began their reply, they lost the wicket of Dudnauth Lallbeharry (05) who was bowled by senior national standby Clinton Pestano (2-20) the very next delivery after hitting the bowler through point for four, at 15 for 1 in the third over.
Deonarine (22, 2×6; 2×4)and national Under-19 opener Kandasammy Surujnarine (22) carried the score to 53 in the eighth over, with Deonarine cutting loose on Batson when he struck the medium fast bowler for two sixes and the same number of fours off successive deliveries in the sixth over.
Pereira thought he saw enough and introduced Ivan into the attack and immediately got success, when the off spinner knocked Deonarine’s off stump with a straighter ball, to spark off wild celebrations amongst his teammates.
When Hooper, who replaced Pestano at the Northern End bowled both Ramcharran (00) and Surujnarine, ASC who were contesting the final without the services of the Chattergoon trio in Ramnarine, Sewnarine and Harrinarine along with Jonathan Foo, Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo, were shakily placed on 56 for 4 in the 11th over.
The wickets of Hemendra Ramdhial (06), Mohan (01) and David Latchaya (00) left them shakily placed on 79 for 7 and even though Pestano was removed from the bowling after he sent down two beamers, coupled with Dwarka’s lusty hitting which saw him hit Ivan for a massive six out of the venue, the writing was on the wall for ASC.
Shameer replaced Ivan and even though he was struck for six over wide long on by Dwarka, his double strike in the said over which included the wickets of Dwarka and Veerapen Permaul (19), who was brilliantly stumped by Hicks, left ASC on 103 for 9.  
Naidu (12) and Gudakesh Kanhai-Motie (4*) pushed the score to 123, before Shameer held an offer from the former over his head at extra cover off Pereira that not only wrapped up ASC’s innings, but handed RHTGG a comfortable victory.
At the brief presentation ceremony which followed, both the President and Public Relations Officer of the BCB Keith and Hilbert Foster lauded the sponsor for the support given to cricket in the Ancient County, while they congratulated the teams for the exciting encounter they put on.
Ivan received a trophy and $5,000 as his man of the match award, while RHTGG took home $50,000 and a trophy and ASC $30,000 for their efforts.