ROSE Hall Canje on Sunday last won the New Amsterdam/Canje leg of the Berbice Cricket Board/Let’s Bet Sports 100 balls cricket tournament.

The team, under the inspirational leadership of Ameer Rahaman, defeated the Guymine Sports Club by sixteen runs to lift their first Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) title in over three decades.

Playing at the historic Rose Hall Canje Community Centre ground in front of a sizeable crowd, the home team played as a collective unit to hold off the challenge of Guymine, who was seeking their first title in over two decades.

Guymine won the toss and elected to insert the home team to take first strike. Openers Michael Campbelle and Jermone Andrews added 24 for the first wicket before Campbelle was caught at the wicket off left arm spinner N. West for 13 in the fourth over. Moonsammy Veersammy soon departed for 03 at 32 for 2. Two more wickets fell in quick succession to leave RHC reeling at 38 for 4. Zameer Hussain struck a massive six in scoring nine but was soon bowled by left arm-spinner, Rocky Hutson.

Skipper Ameer Rahaman and the ultra-aggressive Sasenarine Sukhu then added 65 crucial runs for the sixth wicket with Sukhu hitting six sixes and two fours in a well-played 69. He was bowled with one ball remaining by Joel Seitram. Rahaman ended on eight not out as T. Suknanan was run out off the last ball for one as Rose Hall Canje recovered well to end on 128 for 7 from their allotted 100 balls. Former Berbice youth player Joel Seitram and Rocky Hutson were Guymine’s best bowlers with 3 for 16 and 2 for 37 respectively.

Guymine, in reply, started like a house on fire with openers Devon Clements and Charles Grimmond blasting 34 in just three overs. Opening bowler Raymond Vankenie’s first over was taken for 22 runs as Guymine was on course to finish the game early. Sukhu then returned with the ball to bowl Grimmond for 30 which included five boundaries and one six at 36 for one.

Forty-eight-year-old left-arm spinner Charran Singh then dismissed Kuacy Sinclair (05) and former national junior player Devon Clements (12) to pull back the scoring rate. Boodram Ramsarran and Rocky Hutson struggled to get the ball off the square against the spinners.

Canje, sensing  victory, fielded superbly and bowled well as the required run-rate swelled to twelve per over. Marlon Sheperd (12) and Jorim De Freitas (15) batted well but were dismissed, trying to up the run-rate. Guymine were eventually dismissed in the last over for 112 to lose by 16 runs. Sukhu completed a dream Man-of-the-Finals performance by taking 3 for 17 and Charran Singh supported with 2 for 13.

BCB president Hilbert Foster, at the presentation ceremony, stated that his board was on course to complete the historic tournament within three months. The Let’s Bet Sports tournament includes the hosting of four different tournaments in West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. The four champions would then play a fifth tournament to decide the overall Berbice Champions.

The hardworking BCB president praised both teams for providing a high-class final and hailed the work of Ameer Rahaman of Rose Hall Canje and Gregory Crandon of Guymine. Both clubs were dormant recently but are now among the top clubs in Berbice at the second division level.

Brand Ambassador Rawle Toney expressed his delight at the high standard of cricket played in the finals and the organizing skills of the Hilbert Foster-led BCB.

Toney stated that Foster’s leadership was one of the main reasons why the brand came on board with the BCB. The Brand Ambassador urged the board and clubs in Berbice to uphold the high standard of cricket that is currently taking place in the Ancient County. The winning team, runner-up and Man-of-the-Finals received trophy and a financial prize.