A MATURE and responsible 116-run fourth-wicket stand by the unrelated Ravid and Usain Fredericks, and 5-17 from Arif Singh, ensured defending champions, Essequibo played unbeaten, as they beat Berbice by three wickets in the final of the GCB 40-over U-13 Inter-County cricket match at the LBI Ground on Saturday.
Berbice, invited to bat on a good track and fairly fast outfield, made 154, all out, in 39 overs, as Luke Amsterdam, the brother of national pacer, Isaia Thorne, stroked four fours in 39, while Saiad Jamretty (19), and Skipper Leon Reddy (11) reached double figures.

Leg-spinner Arif Singh, who had Amsterdam LBW when he was beginning to look dangerous, bagged 5-17 for Essequibo, which slipped to 14-3 before the Fredericks pair joined forces in what turned out to be a match-winning partnership.
Watched by a vocal crowd of mostly Berbice fans, Essequibo, led by an unbeaten 73 from tournament’s leading scorer Ravid Fredericks, which was decorated with seven gorgeous boundaries, and 52 from Usain Fredericks with eight fours, reached 158-7.

The partnership was punctuated by the excellent rotation of strike and great shot selection, which belied the age of the talented batters who were quick to pounce on anything loose, and disdainfully dispatch the balls for boundaries.
When Usain Fredericks was finally bowled by Reddy, the score was 134-4, and although the other batters offered hope to Berbice sneaking a win, Ravid kept his head to see his team over the line.
Reddy followed up his 5-9 against Demerara with 2-5, to finish with seven scalps in the tournament, which was first held three years ago as an addition to the age group inter-County competitions.
Ravi Fredericks, who made 18 in the first match, ended with 91 to make him the batter with the most runs and MVP of the final.