WITH a record 20 teams set to participate, heavy rain affected the opening round of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) 40-over Diors Bits and Pieces U-23 knock-out tournament as eight of the 10 matches scheduled for Sunday were washed out.

Play was only possible at the Jai Hind ground and Area H grounds as the games set Skeldon, Goed Banana Land, Rose Hall Canje, Locaber, Blairmont, Bush Lot, Cotton Tree, Kennards memorial and Edward grounds were postponed to Saturday.

At the Area H ground, Rose Hall Town Pepsi defeated Kendalls Union by five wickets after the match was reduced to 25 overs with Kendalls Union, who opted to bat and were bowled out for 128 in 24.3 overs.

Khemraj Parmangal topscored with an attractive 41 before he was brilliantly caught off the bowling of Ramesh Bharrat. His innings included seven boundaries which included two sixes, while Mark Baker supported with 30.
Arthur Lucas 3-24, Jeremy Sandia 3-27 and Matthew Pottaya 3-24 for Rose Hall Town Pepsi who reached 135 in 17.2 overs.
Tyree Sealy 30, Jeremy Sandia 29 not out, Jeremy Sandia 29 not out, Ramzan Koobeer 20, Ramesh Bharrat 15, and Sohil Mohammed 12 not out all batted well as Hemchan Harris took 2-38 for Kendall ‘s Union.

At the Jai Hind ground, Albion defeated Edinburgh by eight wickets to advance to the second round. the visitors were restricted to 55 all out in 15.4 overs. Berbice U-17 pacer Shiv Harripersaud took 6-18 from six overs.

Albion raced to 56-2 in 5.3 overs with Berbice youth players Ari Arizal Kadir 40 not out and Damian Cecil 10 not out leading the way.
On Saturday, Achievers will oppose Edward at Edward, Blairmont face Woodley Park at Blairmont, Cotton Tree battle Bush Lot United at Bush Lot, Guymine come up against Mt. Sinai at Locaber, Tucber Park plays Police at Goed Banana Land and Port Mourant engage Skeldon at Skeldon