THE atmosphere at the recently refurbished Number 69 Vikings ground in Upper Corentyne, Berbice, was absolutely fantastic on Sunday as Guyana all-rounder Clinton Pestano powered Rosehall Town’s Namilco thunderbolt to an exciting six-wicket victory with 24 balls to spare against Albion in the BCB’s fourth Ivan Madray first-division T20 final.

Defending a meagre 119-6, Albion’s former Guyana spin twins, Veerasammy Permaul and Davendra Bishoo bowled some ‘tight’ overs to keep the contest in the balance with 24 required from 24 balls.

Permaul, who conceded just two runs and took two wickets, had two overs out the last four.

However, Bishoo who bowled 13 dot balls, had completed his four overs.

Watched by a large and vocal crowd under a blue sky in scorching heat, with pulsating music emanating from the sound system, Permaul threw the ball to 2010 Stanford hero Jonathan Foo, with 35 needed from 24 balls.

In a match-changing over, the 31-year-old Pestano pounced on Foo’s innocuous off-spin like a cat on a mouse and ripped him to pieces in a murderous assault in an over that cost 28 runs and included two fours and four consecutive sixes.

Talented left-handed national U-19 batter Jonathan Rampersaud, who finished on 21 with two sixes and a four, failed to score off the first two deliveries of the next over from the miserly Permaul but managed a single from the third.

With six to win, Pestano, looking back to full fitness, deposited Permaul into the trees outside the ground to move to 47 with five sixes and two fours in a pugnacious 22 balls innings.
The crowd, many watching the game from the back of mini-buses and car trucks on the ground just beyond the boundary, brought back memories for those old enough to remember similar scenes at Skeldon’s ‘back Centre’ ground and Hampton Court in Essequibo.

Rampersaud joined his captain when Vidal Crandon was brilliantly run out for a duck by Foo after Junior Sinclair, one of three siblings on the Namilco Thunderbolt side, was bowled by Permaul for four at 22-

Kevlon Anderson (12) was LBW to Permaul and Matthew Pottoya, who hit two fours and two sixes in a breezy 25, was bowled by Leon Cecil in the space of five runs to leave the score on 49-3.
Permaul ended with 2-9 from 2.4 overs for Albion, who had earlier elected to bat on a pitch with good pace and bounce and an immaculately manicured outfield.

The 33-year-old Anthony Bramble went on the attack and favoured the cover drive and hook on a fast and large outfield.

Adrian Sukhwa played the supporting role as Albion raced to 51 without loss in the six power-play overs before Keith Simpson removed him for 18 at 51-1.

Sylus Tindell then dismissed Bramble for 30 with three fours and a couple of sixes as Albion slipped to 62-2.

Simpson bowled Afroz Budhoo (2) as he played across the line at 66-3 before Foo (12) and Permaul (10) carried the score to 83, the later falling to Keon Sinclair.

Simpson trapped Foo LBW two runs later at 85-5 while Bishoo (10) was removed by Eon Hooper, before Ari Afciial (13) and Kelvin Umroa (4) were the not-out batters after 20 overs expired.
Simpson had 3-9 from four economical overs

New BCB President Dr. Cecil Beharry congrautled Pestano for leading from the front and his team for winning.

“We are also very proud of Shamar Joseph who came to prominence when he impressed Sir Curtly Ambrose at a fast-bowling camp at Albion. One of the projects for this year is another fast-bowling camp with an international player coming to Guyana,” informed Dr. Beharry.

The BCB head also that Roger Harper would work with the off-spinners at the camp. He also said that a two-day first-division tournament will be held this year, adding that a sponsor for this tournament must be found.

Dr. Beharry commended the number 69 Vikings club for hosting this final at their impressive venue where the government assisted with the construction of a new stand and that is missing was a scoreboard.

The sponsor, Chandradath Chintamani is the nephew of the late Madray and committed to sponsoring the tournament for a fifth year this year.

Madray died on April 23, 2009 at the age of 75 and played the first of his two Tests against Pakistan in 1958 when fellow Guyanese Lance Gibbs also made his Test debut.

The leg-spinner joined pacer John Trim and arguably, Guyana’s best batter Rohan Kanhai, to become the third Test player from Berbice.