Fraser stars as Demerara dethrone Berbice in low-scoring finale

A 15-year wait was finally over for Cherry-Ann Fraser’s Demerara team, after she led from the front yesterday in a low-scoring encounter to take the GCB senior Inter County Women’s T20 title by five wickets.

Played at the Malteenoes ground, Demerara ended Berbice’s 15-year winning streak thanks to the West Indies’ fast bowling all-rounder.

Fraser, who bats left-handed and is one of the quickest female right-arm pacers in the West Indies, grabbed 4-9 from her four overs and got support from Nidia Andrews who had 2-12 as the pre-tournament favourites Berbice were dismantled for 34 in 15 overs.

Berbice, who had recently won their 15th consecutive 50-overs title, were asked to bat in sunny conditions on a track which offered some help for the bowlers.

The defending champions started badly in Demerara’s backyard; losing Cristal Durant, Realanna Grimmond and international player Shabika Gajnabi to leave them on 5-3.
Fraser charged in and bowled fast while Andrews bowled with good control.

When Skipper and West Indies batter Shamaine Campbell was given out after being hit high off Andrews for five and stormed off the ground angrily, Berbice were 17-4 and never recovered as mostly poor shot selection orchestrated the demise of their batters.

Extras top scored with 11.

Demerara, not helped by two run outs, then struggled to reach 35-5 in 13.2 overs as West Indies left-arm spinner Kaycia Schultz hit a boundary in her unbeaten 10.

Demerara were made to work hard for their upset win after West Indies batter Mandy Mangru, the leading scorer in the 50-over format, was brilliantly stumped by Campbell off Ashmani Munisar for one, while Naomi Barkoye (1) was lbw to Gajnabi before Tilleya Madramootoo (4) played an impetuous shot to deep mid-wicket as Phaffiana Millington struck to leave Demerara on 3-9.

When Fraser (3) was run out in a terrible mix-up with Barkoye, the hosts had slipped to 14-4 and the large gathering with included the Essequibo team, were rooting for Berbice.
Cianna Barkoye (3) was also run out at 20-5, but Schultz and Andrews (3) kept their heads and saw their team to victory.

Fraser who scored the most runs, took the most wickets and won the Player-of-the-Match Award, lamented the lack of cricket played by the players who are not at the international level.

“We can got go to camps but if more cricket is not played for these ladies, then if the International players don’t get runs… we will be bowled out for scores like this at the regional level,” said Fraser, who said this is her best inter- county tournament and was happy with her all-round performance.

Berbice Coach Winston Smith said that while there could have been a higher standard of umpiring for senior inter-county cricket, he blamed the poor total on reckless shot selection.