… Sponsorship renewed for 2019

 THE presence of young West Indies Test batsman Shimron Hetmyer in front of a large crowd at the Albion Community Centre ground inspired the Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) to their first major title in recent times.

The team, which was only reformed in late 2018, was playing their third consecutive final after being dormant for a long period.

They had lost the final of the Busta 40-Overs and Pepsi 50-Overs to Rose Hall Town (RHT) Gizmos & Gadgets before finally turning the tables in the Ivan Madray Memorial 100 Balls Tournament to win by seven wickets.

Play in the day/night match started at 16:30hrs with Rose Hall Town batting first after winning the toss. Missing their two most senior players, Clinton Pestano and Royston Crandon, Rose Hall Town were soon 1 for 2 at the end of the first over, with National Under-19 players Junior Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson dismissed caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Trevlon Stanislaus without scoring.

Veteran Jason Sinclair was then bowled by off spinner Linden Austin while the in-form Kevin Sinclair was then run-out in a mix-up with Eon Hooper, to leave Rose Hall Town reeling at 28 for 4 in the sixth over.

Hooper and skipper Shawn Pereira then added 43 for the fifth wicket before Hooper was brilliantly caught by Linden Austin off medium pacer Suresh Dhanai for 24.

Rose Hall Town eventually limped to 93 for 6 off their allotted 100 balls with Pereira unbeaten on 21. Stanislaus ended with 2 for 20 while Suresh Dhanai, Linden Austin and Ishwar Singh ended with a wicket apiece.

National Under-19 player Alex Algoo got the YWCC’s reply off to a flying start when he pulled Kevlon Sinclair for a powerful boundary before his stumps were sent flying next ball to leave his team for 4 for 1.

Hetmyer, making his first appearance in Berbice since his Test debut, received a warm welcome from the large crowd but survived a loud lbw appeal, first ball from the fiery Sinclair.

The West Indies batsman was dropped off National off-spinner Eon Hooper before settling down to top score with 30 while Ishwar Singh (20), Linden Austin (15) and Seon Hetmyer (15 not out) all batted well to guide their team home at 96 for 3 in just 71 deliveries. Keon Sinclair ended with 2 for 25 from 3 overs.

Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) president Hilbert Foster at the presentation ceremony hailed the tournament as a fitting tribute to Berbice’s third Test Player and stated that the Board was proud to be associated with paying tribute to a cricketing legend of the Ancient County.

Foster stated that the historic final was the 24th tournament to be successfully hosted since his election in February 2018, while over 30 tournaments were started during the same period.

Special gratitude was extended to Chandradat Chintamani, nephew of the late Test player and the Madray family for sponsoring the tournament. Chintamani, in brief remarks, congratulated the BCB on organising a remarkable tournament and also announced to loud applause that the sponsorship would be renewed for 2019.

YWCC captain Suresh Dhani stated that his club was delighted to win the tournament as it would serve as an inspiration to achieve greater success. Dhanai also heaped praises on the BCB for the outstanding work it was doing in promoting the game.

YWCC collected $100 000 and the Ivan Madray Memorial trophy while Rose Hall Town carried home $50 000 and the runner-up trophy. Man-of-the-Final Trevlon Stanislaus also received a financial prize and trophy.