…. Warriors secure third place
FORMER national Under-19 batsman Renwick Batson was named man-of-the-match as Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTGG) continued to stamp their authority on first division cricket in Berbice when they defeated Memorex Bermine by eight wickets to take the Berbice Cricket Board/Universal DVD and Solutions first division title at the Blairmont Community Centre ground on Sunday.
Kevin Ramdeen also churned out a solid all-round performance, as Universal DVD Young Warriors staved off a challenge from Blairmont Blazers to win by 35 runs, thus landing themselves the third place position in the 10-team competition.
Watched by a vociferous and appreciative crowd, who were treated to some spectacular dancing by Ivelaw ‘Granny’ Whittaker and the X-Factor dance group, the Shawn Pereira-led RHTGG won the toss and asked their opponents to take first strike.
They vindicated such a decision, thanks to Renwick Batson (3-23), Pereira 2 for 5 and Clinton Pestano with 2 for 17 who combined to bowl out Memorex Bermine for a m,eagre 61 from 14 overs, with Keion De Jesus top-scoring with 25.
National skipper Assad Fudadin struck five fours and the lone six of the match in his unbeaten 40 to take RHTGG to 66 for 2 from 11.4 overs, ending the game with his six that was struck over midwicket off Joemal La Fleur.
In the third place encounter, Balram Samaroo struck four fours and two sixes in his 41 balls 57 while Kevin Ramdeen struck a similar number of boundaries in his robust 40 that took him 19 deliveries to accumulate, as Universal DVD Young Warriors scored 165 for 6 from their 20 overs.
Seon Hetmyer offered support with 29 (1×4) as he added 90 valuable runs for the third wicket from a mere nine overs, after his side lost the wickets of Richard Ramdeen (0) and  Shimron Hetmyer (8) to be shakily placed on 15-2.
The younger Ramdeen showed scant respect for Guyana and West Indies fast bowler Brandon Bess, when he dispatched him for 4, 4, 4 and 6 in the bowler’s final over of his spell, while Samaroo struck Romesh Boodram for two sixes in his second over.
When Blairmont Blazers batted, they catapulted to 5 for 2. Karamdat Bissoondyal top-scored with 38 that included four fours and Altaf Khan (34, 3×4, 1×6) added 79 for the third wicket.
The introduction of Kevin Ramdeen into the attack saw an added collapse to the home team’s batting, as the off-spinner took 5 for 10 which, along with D. Ramoutar’s 2 for 32, reduced the Blairmont Blazers to 126 from their allotted 20 overs.
At the simple presentation ceremony that followed, Batson received accolades after being adjudged the man-of-the-match in the final, best batsman (178 runs) and best all-rounder  (178 runs and 11 wickets) while his teammate Rajiv Ivan took home the best bowler award for his 14 wickets.
All four teams received cash and trophies for their respective placing in the tournament, while the umpires were also rewarded following which treasurer of the BCB, Anil Beharry, lauded the efforts of the tournament’s sponsor Vickram Seubarran who promised to make next year’s tournament a bigger and better one.