Beharry Group National U-19 schools T20 cricket tournament…

THE playoffs in the Beharry Group National U-19 schools T20 cricket tournament, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, were contested yesterday with two matches in the ‘final-four’ at the Queen’s College ground on Thomas Road in Georgetown.

In sweltering heat, under a blue sky, Annandale Secondary beat Covent Garden Secondary by 46 runs and will now face Abram Zuil Secondary, who lost by four wickets to Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) in the qualifier yesterday.

Yesterday’s win by the Berbicians, arguably the strongest team in the nationwide tournament, qualifies them for a direct spot in the final where they will meet the winner of Eliminator 2.

Covent Gardens did not make the most of their second opportunity to be in the tournament after replacing Essequibo Islands Secondary, who were disqualified for playing a youth who left the Wakenaam school two years ago.

Annandale, on the back of Joshua Bollers’ 29, Akeem Persaud’s 27 and an unbeaten 24 from Sanjay Dindyal, made 127-6 when their 20 overs expired.

Vinesh Kalpoo had 2-8, while Shane Khan supported with 2-25 for Covent Garden, who were bundled out for a paltry 81 in 17 overs.

When the East Bank Demerara school began their reply, only Kalpoo 24 and Jamele Schultz 27 put up a fight with a 50-run third-wicket partnership.

The pair joined forces at 8-2 after Kevin Singh had bowled Navindranauth Ram (2) and Orwin Jordon for a duck.

Akeem Persaud trapped Kalpoo lbw at 58-3 while Shane Khan (1) and Joshua Hoasyx (0) fell in quick succession, as Covent Garden slipped to 64-6

Ruel Dindyal then grabbed the four wickets, including Shultz, who hit two fours and a six as Covent Garden were catapulted from 58-2 to 81 all out.

Ruel Dindyal had 4-16, Kevin Singh took 3-19 while Persuad grabbed 2-19.

Earlier, Kalpoo bowled both openers: Jermaine Paton (12) and Sanjay Dindyal (0) to leave Annandale on 17-1 in the fourth over.

Ruel Dindyal (5) fell to Jousha Hoasyx at 33-3 before Bollers and Persaud got them back on track.

Shane Khan removed both of them to leave the score on 98-6.

Sanjay Dindyal (24) and Nicholas Ramrattan (4) added 29 to see their team to a winning score.

In the other game, Abram Zuil were dismantled for 88 in 18.2 overs.

Brandon Grimmond bowled Yuvesh Bridgemohan for a duck at 1-1, before the in-form Ravid Fredericks and Marcanthony Obermuller added 34 for the second wicket in good batting conditions before Raj Ramnauth got rid of Obermuller (12) at 35-2.

The 50 was posted before Ramnauth had Fredericks, who stroked a run-a-ball 30 with five boundaries, lbw at 53-3 before Jeremiah bowled Otis Roberts (17) at 72-4.

From 72-4, Abram Zuil slumped to 88 all out with six wickets tumbling as national U-15 spinner Grimmond got four wickets for five runs to finish with 5-10.

Ramnauth supported with 2-26 for BEI, who lost two early wickets when Rhonel Nurse struck twice to leave the Berbicians on 17-2.

Luke Amsterdam, who made 33 with a four and six, added 57 with Grimmond (25)

Ravid Fredericks removed Amsterdam, and Eshwar Tilak dismissed Grimmond to leave BEI on 77-4 before Demetrius Reid (10) and Geovani Amsterdam (3) saw BEI into the final.