Sookra’s 85 puts D’Edward into playoffs
… West Berbice also through

CRICKET action in this year’s Berbice Cricket Board/Carib Beer-sponsored T20 first division competition continued recently with D’Edward opening batsman Lakeraj Sookra blasting 85 to steer his team to a relatively easy win over Blairmont Community Centre.The win ensured D’Edward a place in the last six playoffs of the competition, having won both of their Zone ‘A’ (West Berbice) preliminary matches so far, with only one left to play.
Sookra’s knock which included 10 fours and six sixes is the highest individual score in the competition so far, eclipsing the 83 made by his team mate Eon Abel against Bush Lot Rising Star the previous weekend and made it easy for his team to overtake the fairly challenging 142 for 4 made by Blairmont with 4.1 overs to spare.
West Berbice became the other team from that Zone to be assured of a place in the playoff after they beat Bush Lot Rising Star for their second consecutive victory.
In Zone B (Canje, New Amsterdam, East Bank) Young Warriors also registered their second victory but would have to await the outcome of the third preliminary round to know if they would go forward.
Spearheading them to their win was off-spinner Linden Austin who took 3 for 4 to restrict Police to 102 for 9 in 20 overs, before national opener Shimron Hetmyer blasted an unbeaten 54 (31 balls 5×4, 1×6), which, together with his elder brother Seon Hetmyer’s unbeaten 36, posted 103 in 12.4 overs for Young Warriors to give them an easy nine-wicket victory.
After seeing national Under-19 fast bowler Nial Smith take 3 for 15 to help Universal Solutions Bermine restrict Edinburgh to 111 for 6 in 20 overs, former Guyana Under-15 batsman Leon Williams steered Bermine to an eight-wicket victory with his unbeaten 57 (10×4), receiving support from Essequibo’s Kevon Boodie who made 31.
Skeldon Community Centre also registered an eight-wicket victory over GuyTrac Upper Corentyne, who were firstly restricted to 117 for 7 in their 20 overs and then watched as Skeldon, led by 58 (9×4, 1×6) from Trishan Ramdass, reached 118 for 2 in 13.4 overs.