Berbice beat Essequibo by 4 wickets in low scoring clash

Berbice on Sunday beat Essequibo in a low scoring matchup as the GCB’s Senior Women 50-over Inter-County tournament continued.

After dismissing Essequibo for 64 at Meten-Meer-Zorg, Berbice opted to provide their lesser established batters with an opportunity to get some time in the middle ahead of the deciding match against Demerara at Malteenoes on Tuesday.

However, in a game played on a good track and in bright sunshine, the Berbican ladies wasted that chance with some injudicious shots and lost six wickets, reaching 65-6 and giving Essequibo a glimmer of hope.

West Indies batter Shemaine Campbell, batting at number eight, hit the winnings runs to finish unbeaten on four.

Watched by a fair-sized gathering of mostly Berbicans seated in a brand-new pavilion, good bowling and ordinary batting saw just two ladies reaching double figures for the losers.
Cyanna Retemiah and Latoya Williams could only muster 12 each on a fast outfield.

Lauren Williams (9) was removed by off-spinner Plaffiana Millington at 20-1 to start a dramatic collapse as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Varuni Pitamber (1) was bowled by West Indies U-19 off-spinner Ashmini Munisar at 23-2 before Williams, Navika Narine (0) and the experienced 36-year-old Kumarie Persaud (0) were all sent packing as four wickets tumbled for no run; Essequibo slumping to 23-5.

Williams and National pacer 20-year-old Retemiah offered token resistance before medium pacer Tricia Hardat, who had 3-5, bowled Retemiah.

Williams was later trapped LBW to the long-serving national player Millington who had 3-11 as Essequibo slipped to 59-7.

Melanie Dover (7) was LBW to Shabika Gajnabi before Player-of-the-Match Hardat polished off the last two batters. Munisar supported Hardat and Millington with 2-7.

When Berbice began their reply, Gajnabi, who scored the last ton in this tournament at Everest in 2019, played a loose shot at Retemiah after making just a single to leave the score on 5-1.
Realeanna Grimmond was looking set on 16 with three boundaries before skying Persaud to cover.

Crystal Durant (6) had her off-stump uprooted and after hitting Retemiah for back-to-back boundaries, Munisar was caught and bowled by Yonette Welcome as Berbice slipped to 52-6.

Campbell (5) and Tiea Isaacs (11) then saw their team to victory as Retemiah and Persaud had two wickets each.