No. 72 All Stars clinch title

THE sun was out in all of its glory, spectators came out in large numbers while the cricket on the field was of the highest standard, as the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) hosted the final of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association-sponsored Ramnaresh Sarwan 40 overs second division tournament.

However, when the game concluded at the No. 72 Cut and Load ground, No. 72 All Stars held their nerves to defeat the home team by 10 runs in a thrilling match, which kept the huge crowd on their feet during the final 10 overs.

No. 72 All Stars won the toss and batted first. They were bowled out for 156 in 35 overs. Kameshwar Chatterpaul top-scored with 36 and he received support from Anand Singh 25, Mohindra Bhoj 20 and Trishan Ramdass 20.

Imran Khan (3-15), Abdullah Ajib (2-21), Rishi Persaud (2-16) and Devanand Chatterpaul (2-14) were the wicket-takers for the No. 72 Cut and Load team.
Cut and Load were given the perfect start by openers Ramesh Joseph and Kadil Ajib who added 70 runs for the first wicket, before Joseph threw his wicket away in the 18th over, to be caught on the long-on boundary for 22.

Ajib continued to play a responsible innings even as wickets fell around, due to a brilliant spell of hostile fast bowling from Taleshwar Baichan who took four quick wickets. The dismissal of the talented Rishi Persaud, caught at mid-wicket off a miscued pull, was the crucial turning point for the match, as No. 72 All Stars never gave up hope.

Devanand Chatterpaul 15 and Ajib tried to hold the innings together but when Baichan trapped Ajib lbw for a top score of 50, the match was virtually over for No. 72 Cut and Load. Taleshwar Baichan took 4-23 and Wayne Garnett 3-31 for the champions.
BCB president Hilbert Foster was loud in praise for the friendly atmosphere that the final was played in, noting that both teams hailed from the same village.

Foster stated that there can be no doubt that cricket in the area was on the move again. He praised the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association for the outstanding work it was doing to promote the game.
Special mention was made of former Guyana and West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan for his sponsorship of the tournament.

The tournament marked the sixteenth completed tournament by the BCB in the last four months while eight others are in process.
Upper Corentyne Cricket Association secretary Sydney Jackman was loud in praise of the outstanding work of the BCB and the role it was playing in the promotion of the game in Upper Corentyne.