COTTON Tree Die Hard registered a relatively easy 48-run victory over D’Edward to earn a place in the final of the Hand-In-Hand second division 40-Over cricket competition which was organised by the Berbice Cricket Board for teams in West Berbice.

In the semi-final which was reduced to 35 overs-a-side and was played at the Cotton Tree ground, the home team won the toss and decided to take first strike.
They had a start of 60 runs from Jagdeo Persaud and Roshan Gafoor before the hard-hitting Persaud fell for 41 which included five fours and three sixes.
Gafoor continued with Ishwar Singh and the two of them added 40 valuable runs for the second wicket before they both fell in quick succession, with Gafoor going for 30 and Singh 18, leaving Cotton Tree in a good position at 110 for 3.
With Fizal Khan slamming 33 and Nashad Gafoor 29, Cotton Tree managed to reach 214 all-out in their 35 overs, with Navendra Rampersaud  (3-21), Derick Narine-Lalsa (3-31) and former Berbice all-rounder, Eon Abel who took 2 for 57, doing the damage with the ball.
When D’Edward began their response, they lost two early wickets to the opening pacers Nashad Gafoor and Azal Horoon to be 6 for 2.
There was a recovery when Lakeraj Sookra and Narine-Lalsa added 42 for the third wicket and when Sookra fell for 31, Narine-Lalsa and Eon Abel rattled up 80 between them to put D’Edward in a comfortable position.
However, after off-spinner Roshan Gafoor removed Narine-Lalsa for 40 and left-arm spinner Waqar Hassan had Abel caught for 49, the innings suffered a decline as Hassan picked up three more wickets that were mainly responsible for D’Edward being bowled out for 166 in 24 overs, as he ended with 4 for 35 while Azal Horoon took 2 for 27.
Cotton Tree Die Hard will be meeting with the other winning semi-finalists Hopetown United, in the final which is scheduled for Sunday at the Bush Lot ground in West Berbice.