Berbice batting meltdown hands Demerara title

By Rajiv Bisnauth
DEMERARA capitalised on a batting meltdown by Berbice to win the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 One-Day Inter-County title yesterday at the LBI ground.
The side from the Ancient County was left to rue the lack of application by a number of their batsmen, and was skittled out for 72 in 25 overs, but the run chase was no easy task, as the home team reached 77-8 in 25.4 overs. Earlier, after Andre Samaroo won the toss and elected to field, left-arm spinner, Michael Pooran, ripped through the heart of the batting order, claiming 6-10 off nine overs. The Berbicians were in danger right from the start, losing opener Rampertab Ramnuath in the innings first over to Bryon Bowen (1-18), without scoring. They then lost the wickets of Jonathan Rampersaud (1), and Shamar Angel (6), and were in danger of being bowled out under 50.
But Seon Glasgow joined opener Marvon Prashad and resurrected the innings somewhat. Prashad struck three fours in his top score of 26, while Glasgow hit a boundary in his 25, before the innings imploded once again.

It was evident that the wicket had turn and bounce, and Pooran, the Ogle Sports Club player, utilised the pitch condition perfectly, claiming five of the remaining batsmen. Dwain Dick supported man-of-the-match Pooran well, returning figures of 3-19.
The Berbice spinners did make a match out of it as the hosts grinded out a narrow win by two wickets. Demerara found themselves losing both openers, Ushardeva Balgobin (8) and Mathew Nandu (0), cheaply. Both batsmen fell to off-spinner Rampersaud, who had figures of 3-21.
Mavendra Dindyal and Alvin Mohabir helped to get the innings back on track, hitting 19 apiece. But when the partnership was broken, Demerara lost six quick wickets. Rampersaud added one more wicket to his impressive figures while left-arm spinner, Gourav Ramesh (1-10), fellow left-arm spinner, Nigel Deodat (2-31) and Aaron Beharry (2-15), were the other wicket takers.
However, a level-headed Bowen, with 10 not out, saw his team home in company with Zachory Johad.