BRAVADOS Cricket Club crushed Better Hope Sports Club by 109 runs before a large crowd, on a good outfield and in brilliant sunshine in the East Coast Cricket Board’s (ECCB) Second Division 40-over Tournament final.The eventual victors won the toss and elected to bat on an excellent track. Anthony Ifill and Nigel Estrado started the innings briskly. Estrado struck three boundaries and a massive six before he was trapped lbw on 20 with the score at 23 in the third over.
Marcus Watkins joined Ifill and both batsmen batted sensibly to reach 110-1 in the 18th over before Watkins was bowled by Jayadev Mana for 44 then Ifill was next to go for a well-played 40.
Kellon Carmichael, Lionel Wordsworth and Kelwin Bovell went in quick succession as the score ticked over to 139 for 6 in the 28th over.
Better Hope looked to tighten the screws but captain Earl Gilkes joined Rawle Merrel to steady the ship and press forward. Merrel was removed for a well-played 34 as Bravados reached 200-7.
They were eventually stopped on 242 in the 39th over with captain Gilkes contributing a well-constructed 37. Jayadev Mana finished with 2-36 while Daniel Kowlessar had 2-38 and Amir Khan, 2-20.
Roy Persaud and Daniel Kowlessar started the Better Hope Sports Club innings as Ifill and Seon Sampson opened the attack for Bravados. Needing to score more than 6 runs per over to win, Persaud was removed early for 6.
Some indifferent bowling by the Bravados attack saw some 31 extras given away as Better Hope were skittled out for 133 in 24 overs. Simpson, Gilkes and Alex Culley were the bowlers responsible for Better Hope’s demise as Seon Simpson finished with 4-31, Gilkes 3-22 and Cully 2-28.
Amir Khan was left unbeaten on 42 while Mulchan Singh (18) and Daniel Kowlessar (13) were the only other batsmen to meet double figures.
Gilkes was adjudged man-of-the-match while Khan was awarded a medal for his outstanding performances for the losing side.
Following the match, president of the ECCB Mr. Bissoondyal Singh congratulated both teams for reaching the final especially Bravados for winning the competition and expressed his gratitude to Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Corporate Guyana, the clubs, the NDCs and the umpires for their continuous contributions and support of development of the game on the East Coast of Demerara.