By Sean Devers

Demerara Champions DCC will face-off with Berbice winners Albion today from 9:30 hrs at Bourda in the National semi-finals of the GCB U-23 knock-out 50 over tournament.
The historic Bourda which hosted West Indies first ever Test win in 1930, looked in peak condition yesterday as ground and pitch were being rolled.
The pitch should be good for batting with some help for the spinners while the outfield is anticipated to be lightning fast.

On the road to today’s national Semis, DCC, which produced Test greats Clive Lloyd, Lance Gibbs, Roy Fredericks, beat GCC by 181 runs, defeated MYO by 10 wickets, beat Transport Sports Club by 175 runs, got past Lusignan by eight wickets before beating West Demerara by 37 runs.

On the other hand, Albion, which produced Test spinners Davindra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie, defeated Blairmont at Port Mourant in super over thriller as both teams scored 90 runs in the Berbice Final. In the Super over, Blairmont made 5-2 from five deliveries before Albion 7 for 1 from one over.
Albion also beat Skeldon by five wickets after beating Port Mourant by 32 runs.

Speaking yesterday afternoon Albion’s Head Coach former West Indies Test batter Seenarine Chattergoon said his boys have been playing well while pointing out that their toughest match was in the Berbice Zone final when both teams scored the same runs leading to a super over.
“We have a balanced team with our bowling in the hands of Kumar Deopersaud 4 for 14 from 10 overs and Leon Cecil 4 for 32 from 10 overs in the Berbice final while Afraz Budhoo and Deopersaud bowled well when we bowled out Skeldon for 54.
The batting will bank on Ari-Afrizal Kadir Skipper Leon Cecil, Damion Cecil, Afraz Budhoo, Tameshwar Mangal and Jetendra Outar” Chattergoon, one of six players from Albion to Test cricket, posited.

DCC’s Coach Darien Best said that players he expects to do well today are all-rounder Indarjeet Nanan who has been very consistent, captain Nkosi Beaton and wicketkeeper Brandon Jaikarran.
“Our batting will depend on experienced left-handers Sachin Singh and Shamar Yearwood, who just off of U19 duties while Jonathan Van Lange, the National 17-captain, can hit a long and is also a capable seamer” said Coach Best

Daniel Mootoo has the most wickets in the tournament (13) while Nanan, in addition to his crafty off-spin has 155 from three innings
Albion’s X1 will come from Ari-Afrizal Kadir, Leon Cecil (captain), Damion Cecil, Afraz Budhoo, Tameshwar Mangal, Jetendra Outar, Kumar Deopersaud, Feaz Baksh, Shiv Harripersaud, Naeem Khan, Devin Lalbehari, Dion Sital Nicholas Ishack, Arvin Jowahirand Nathaniel Ramsammy,

DCC will come from: Nkosi Beaton, Brandon Jaikarran, Sachin Singh, Shamar Yearwood, Jaden Campbell, Indarjeet Nanan, Jaden Dowlin, Ricardo Percival, Daniel Mootoo, Jonathan Van Lange, Kareem Whitney, Ezekiel Wilson Wavell Allen.