By Michelangelo Jacobus

THE Berbice U-19s defeated their Demerara counterparts by 32 runs yesterday at the Everest ground to tighten their grip on the Hand-in-Hand U-19 50 Overs Inter-County trophy.

Having already dismantled Essequibo on Monday at Albion, the Berbicians won the toss and elected to bat after rain caused the game to be reduced to 49 overs.

The batsmen yet again struggled but managed a respectable total of 185 all out in 47.4 overs thanks to solid contributions from opening batsman Junior Sinclair (44), Seon Glasgow (31), Kevlon Anderson (28) and Leon Swamy who scored 29.

Alex Algoo (2) was the first wicket to fall, lbw to Qumar Torrington with the score on just three. However, skipper Kevlon Anderson joined Sinclair and together the duo put on a partnership of 59 before Anderson was bowled by Sachin Singh for 28 which included four boundaries.

That was the only partnership of substance as Torrington, who ended with figures of 3 for 39 (10 overs), Ashmead Nedd (2-36 off 10 overs) and Alphius Bookie with 2-13 from 3.4 overs struck at regular intervals to restrict the Berbicians to what looked like a par score.

In response, chasing 186 for victory, a few of the Demerara batsmen got starts but like their opponents, could not carry on, as Anderson, Swamy and Nigel Deodat applied the brakes

After Anderson and Swamy removed openers Sachin Singh (3) and Robin Williams (1) cheaply, Adrian Hinds and Bookie combined for a third-wicket partnership of 54. However, when Hinds holed out off the bowling of Deodat for 31 (4×2) with the score at 64, it sparked the beginning of the end for Demerara.

Only Alphius Bookie who made 30 (4×1, 6×1) and Nedd with 19 (4×3) offered any resistance for Demerara who could not up their run rate. When their allotted 49 overs were up, they were left on 153 for 8, 32 runs short of their target.

Anderson was the pick of the bowlers for Berbice with figures of 3-38 (10 overs). He received solid support from Swamy who ended with 2-32 (9 overs) and Nigel Deodat who picked up 2-11 from his six overs.

Berbice have now won both of their games and will next face the Select U-17s where a victory will officially hand them the trophy.