GCB U15 inter-county 50-over cricket…

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH Arif Bacchus made crucial 33 and took 1-16 from nine overs to lead Berbice to a three-wicket win on the DLS System to dethrone Demerara yesterday at the at LBI ground to lift the GCB U15 50 overs cricket title.

Berbice, set a revised target of 171 in reply to Demerara’s 166-7 in a game reduced to 45 overs due to stoppage for rain, reached 173-7 to win their first title since 2022.
The tourists were given a good start from Richard Ramdehol and Luke Amsterdam before Patrice Frazer, arguably the fastest bowler in the tournament, trapped Ramdehol LBW for 25 with five boundaries at 40-1.

Amsterdam (6) was run out without addition to score before Nathaniel Ramsammy and Arif Mavimutoo joined forces to blunt Demerara’s two main spinners Reyas Latif who had a 7-for in the first round and left-arm spinner Brandon Henry.

Latif beat the left-handed Arif Marimootoo consistently with big turning googles but failed to find his edge while Henry struggled for control as the pair brought up their 50 partnership.
With the score on 93-2 and pendulum swinging in Berbice’s favour, Makai Dowlin removed Ramsammy for 29 whose innings contained three fours and a six.

This brought Bacchus to the crease.
A good-sized gathering, mainly of Demerara supporters, watched as the fourth wicket stand gained momentum for Berbice.

Latif was brought back and made an impact as he ended with 2-31 to tie with left-arm wrist spinner Joshua Thomas from the Select X1 with the most wickets (9).
Latif got rid of Bacchus and Mavimutoo before Akeem Persaud picked up two quick wickets as Berbice slipped 168-7 before Rafel McKenzie (1) and Leon Reddy, who hit the winning boundary, was left not out on five.

The duo saw their team to victory which sparked wild celebration from their supporters.
Earlier, in sweltering hot conditions, the home team won the toss and on a slow track Lomar Seecharran and Kush Seegobin played some delightful shots and batted with more intent than in their previous match when they lost to Essequibo on Wednesday.

The pair brought up 50 from 54 balls and both batters looked set for big scores on a rough but lightning-fast outfield.
But once spin was introduced the run rate for the defending Champions dipped and from 66 without loss to 66-3.

Seecharran, well set on 31 from 53 balls, attempted hit off-spinner Ramdehol over cover to break the promising partnership.
Ramdehol, the Berbice Captain, bowled Nathan Bishop for a first ball duck and was on hat-trick which was averted by Makai Dowlin.
Without addition to score Seegobin was run out for 26 with four fours from 53 balls to leave the score on 66-3 as three tumbled for no run.

Shahid Ramzan and Makai Dowlin joined forces in overcast conditions and carried the score to 80 before rain stopped play at 11:21 hours after 26 overs.
At the break Ramzan was on 10 and Dowlin on four.

When play resumed at 13:05 hours, Dowlin and Ramzan engaged in ‘operation rebuild’ with sensible batting to bring up the 100 off 202 balls.
Bacchus removed Dowlin (16) at 115 to break the 49-run fourth wicket stand and trigger another collapse as four wickets fell for six runs.

With the score on 120-4, Ramzan was run out for 31 with two boundaries from 60 balls to take his run tally with 91 from three matches.
Two wickets fell at 121 when Persaud was run out for a duck and Latif played over a full delivery before he had scored.

Henry who reached ropes twice and cleared it once in his 34 took his aggregate to 92 runs to win the prize for most runs.

Prosper Jacobus was left not out on six when the 150 posted from 263 balls after putting together 45 in an unfinished eight-wicket stand with Henry.
Ramdehol who played in last year’s regional U-15 Tournament was the pick of the bowlers with 2-37.

Justin Dowlin, Jacobus and Ramzan scored the only half centuries in the tournament.
This tournament was used to select Guyana’s team for the Regional U-15 tournament scheduled for April in Antigua.