THE investment of female cricket in Berbice has definitely reap rewards, as the County’s female cricket team produced an all-round effort to claim the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Female Inter-County 50-over cricket title yesterday at the Lusignan Community Centre ground..

The achievement is just one in a series of accomplishments of the new board under the leadership of Hilbert Foster.

When the final round was completed, Berbice easily disposed of Demerara by 50 runs.
Deciding to bat first in the shortened game, which was reduced to 32 overs aside, Berbice made a challenging total of 131-8.

Openers Sheneta Grimmond and Melanie Henry laid a solid foundation, adding 50 runs for the first-wicket, with Grimmond playing the attacking role.
Grimmond made 30 before she was run out. However, Katana Mentore (10) and Tremayne Smartt (12) then gave Henry valuable support before both were dismissed by Haseena Mohamed.

Erva Giddings joined Henry and the pair were left unbeaten on 19 and 37 respectively.
The target was always going to be a problem for the hosts, and they managed to reach 81-8 in 24 overs, with Kaycia Schultz and Lotoya Smith being unable to bat due to minor injuries.

When the reply began, Smartt claimed three quick wickets to put the host in early trouble.
The former West Indies right-arm medium pacer removed Lashuna Toussaint (3), Casey Charles (3), and Akaze Thompson (7).

Opener Mandy Mangru and Cherry-Ann Fraser provided brief resistance but when the latter was dismissed for 21, the other batters failed to offer support to Mangru, who was left unbeaten on 33.

Sherika Campbell was the other bowler with three wickets for the winners. Smartt was adjudged player-of-the-match.

Meanwhile, the T20 format will take place on three consecutive days with Essequibo battling Demerara and Berbice on May 11 and 12 respectively at Everest Cricket Club ground, before Berbice and Demerara square off on April 13 at the GCC ground, Bourda.
The team with the most points will be declared champions.