ANOTHER fine all-round performance from former national batsman Gajanand Singh led Universal DVD Young Warriors (UDYW) to victory over West Berbice in their final Group A preliminary match of the 2012 Berbice Cricket Board/Tenelec Incorporated first division 50-over competition.

Universal DVD Young Warriors’ win took them to eight points, the same as Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTGG), but, having beaten them in the head-to-head clash, were declared winners of that group thus qualifying for the semi-finals.
Albion Community Centre, led by a fighting 47 from their former West Indies opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon and fine bowling from off-spinner Veerapen Permaul and West Indies right-arm leg-spinner, Devendra Bishoo, managed to overpower Bermine to finish third on six points behind UDYW and RHTGG, joining them in the semi-finals.
Bermine and West Berbice ended up with four points each but with Bermine having defeated West Berbice earlier in the competition, they were given the nod for the fourth position in Group A and will therefore clash with Group B winners, Port Mourant Karibee Rice, this Saturday at Port Mourant for the fourth semi-final spot.
Blairmont Community Centre, led by a four-wicket haul from their right-arm leg-spinner Kevon Jawahir, recorded a consolation Group B victory over Police to see them total six points after the preliminary rounds, the same as Port Mourant Karibee Rice who had defeated them earlier.
Scores from the matches which were played recently:
At Cumberland, UDYW beat West Berbice by 63 runs in the 43 overs-a-side contest, after rain forced a late start.
Winning the toss and batting first, UDYW, led by 89 from Gajanand Singh and 63 from Guyana Under-19 batsman, Shimron Hetmyer, made 246 for 9 in their 43 overs. Bowling for West Berbice, leg-spinner Andrew Dutchin took 3 for 38, medium pacer Alan Johnson 2 for 43 and former Guyana nder-19 pacer, Raun Johnson 2 for 71.
When West Berbice responded, they lost their early wickets quickly and even with their number eight batsman Keith Fraser hitting a breezy 70, they could reply with only 183 all-out in 37 overs – Arthley Bailey chipping in with 38.
Bowling for UDYW, former Guyana opening batsman Richard Ramdeen took 4 for 8 with his left-arm spin, Singh 3 for 40 and another off-spinner, Balram Samaroo, 2 for 48.
At Albion, Albion Community Centre beat Bermine by 26 runs. Losing the toss and sent in to bat first, Albion Community Centre were set back early by former Guyana Under-15 pacer, Nial Smith, who had both Kandasammy Surujnarine (1) and Jonathan Foo (2) caught to leave the score 3 for 2.
The experienced Chattergoon, however, batted on, putting on 47 for the third wicket with Permaul (24) and after Permaul and Bishoo went in quick succession at 60 for 4, he and Guyana Under-17 batsman Sharaz Ramcharran, added another invaluable 39 for the 5th wicket after which Chattergoon fell for 47 (2×4).
With Ramcharran going on to score 33 and Guyana Under-19 cricketer Gudakesh Motie, 23, Albion made 149 all out in 48.5 overs against the bowling of Nial Smith (2 for 19), off-spinner Devon Clements (2 for 33) and left-arm spinner Eugene LaFleur who took 2 for 36.
When Bermine replied, they seemed well on the way, scoring 18 runs in the first three overs, before the combination of Permaul and Bishoo saw them slip to 54 for 5 and a run-out soon had them 60 for 6.
Former Guyana Under-17 batsman, Jamally Odle tried a rescue act, putting on 38 for the seventh wicket with national Under-19 fast bowler Romario Shepherd DeJonge (12) for the 7th wicket and 20 for the 8th wicket with Damien Van Tull (19), before he fell for 27 at 118 for 8.
The innings folded shortly after for 123 in 44 overs with Veerapen Permaul taking 3 for 19 from 6 overs, Bishoo 2 for 4 from 10 overs and Motie 2 for 34 from 9 overs for Albion.
At Blairmont, Blairmont Community Centre beat Police by 2 wickets. Police sent in to bat first made 130 in 39.3 overs with Don Farley 29 and Charles Grimmond 26.
Bowling for Blairmont Community Centre, Kevon Jawahir took 4 for 34 and Deveshwari Prashad 3 for 35, while their team replied with 131 for 8 in 35.2 overs with Nick Ramsaroop 30 not out, Prashad 29 and Avinash Sewkarran 23.
Bowling for Police, off-spinners Andel Doris snared 3 for 21 from 10 overs and Quesy Mickle 2 for 30 from 8.2 overs.