THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), on Sunday last, successfully completed the finals of the ten grassroot games of cricket, following an enforced absence of one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The final leg was played at the Bush Lot Village ground for the Troy Haley Challenge Cup. Four teams were involved in the one-day tournament: D’dward CC, Achievers CC, Bush Lot United and Bush Lot Rising Stars.
D’Edward CC won the toss and batted first, amassing a healthy 181 for 7 from their allotted 20 overs. Lakeraj Sukwah top scored with 60 which included four massive sixes and five boundaries.

He received support from Altaf Khan (28), Deonauth Persaud (20) and Keith Fraser (18). Bowling for Bush Lot United, Andrew Rambarran took 3-37 from his four overs while Rajpat Khemraj and Rajeef Kishun took one wicket apiece for 13 and 44, respectively, from four overs each.
In reply, the home team fell short by six runs as they ended on 175 for 8 from their twenty overs. Needing to score 14 runs from the last over, Bush Lot United only managed eight runs to give D’dward CC the title.
Nawindra Prasad scored a polished unbeaten 51, which included two boundaries and three sixes; he got support from Kymant Ally (29) and Rajpat Hemraj (42).
Bowling for the visitors, veteran Heeralall Bridgelall took two wickets for 11 runs from two overs while Lakeram Sukwah completed a fine all-round performance by taking 2 for nine from one over.

Earlier in the day, D’Eward CC defeated Bush Lot Rising Star CC by eight wickets while Bush Lot United eased past Achievers CC by eight wickets.
The nine other tournaments were sponsored by a wide range of former cricketers associated with Berbice cricket.
They include former players, Narsingh Deonarine, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Vishal Nagamootoo, Karran Singh, Arjune Nandu, Mukesh Appiah, Jermey Gordon and Shimron Hetmeyer.
BCB president Hilbert Foster announced that teams in the four sub zones: West Berbice, Upper Corentyne, New Amsterdam/Canje and Lower/Central Corentyne would now clash in their own inter zones knockout tournaments before the county wide round-robin tournament starts later in the year. BCB vice-president Robby Saywack extended gratitude to Troy Haley, a former West Berbice player, for his support and called on others to follow in his footsteps. The winning and runner-up teams received monetary prizes along with trophies, while Lakeraj Sukwah was named Player of the finals and received a medal and cash as well.