… MVP Millington stars with ball

A DOMINANT all-round effort from the Berbice ladies saw them narrowly ease past Demerara by just 8 wickets, to retain their GCB/Superbet Senior female 50-overs inter- county championship title.

In the final played last Sunday at the GCC ground, Bourda the right-arm off-spinner, Plaffiana Millington, snared 4-14 while left-arm spinner Dian Prahalad (3 for 28) and Erva Giddings (2 for 19), helped keep Demerara to 104-all out in 41.4 overs.

Latoya Smith stroked 49 runs but was adjudged leg-before-wicket as she attempted to capture a half-century while national opener Lashana Toussaint supported with 10 for Demerara.

In the end, it was the in-form Shabika Gajnabi who paved the way for Berbice’s victory, hitting one six and three fours in her magical 52. West Indies player Tremayne Smart hit an unbeaten 24, while Katana Mentore chipped in with 14 to propel the defending champs to an easy 8-wicket win over their long-time foes.

At Enmore, Essequibo won the toss and inserted the Select U-19 to bat. They collapsed for 60 all-out in 20.4 overs against the destructive bowling by player-of-the-match Nathaly Chaitram 4-6, Cyana Retemiah 2-11, Khemwattie Tulshi 2-16 and Kumare Persaud 2-17. Sarah Amin (10) was the only player to reach double digits.

In response, Essequibo too were on the receiving end of fierce bowling by Naveena Ramnauth 4-14, to see Khemwattie Tulshi (13), not out, being the sole batter to reach double digits, inclusive of one boundary. Despite this, Essequibo managed to reach their target of 61 runs in 21.5 overs; their first victory for the tournament.

In the end, Berbice retained their title by a single point, edging ahead of Demerara who finished in runners-up spot. Speaking on behalf of the champions, Gajnabi described the tournament to be one she enjoyed wished her team mates and all participants the best going forward.

Director of Cricket West Indies (CWI) and GCB secretary of Anand Sanasie expressed special thanks to Superbet for collaborating with the GCB on this venture.

He encouraged players to upkeep their moral and ethical conduct as they are the ambassadors of both the GCB and Superbet, their proud sponsors of the Regional tournament.

Meanwhile, Superbet Marketing Assistant, Nickoli Primo expressed delight in the involvement with this sport and noted it was ‘a venture worth taking’.