ROSE Hall Community Centre and Police have advanced into the semi-finals of the 2009 Tenelec 50-overs first division cricket competition in Berbice.

With Rose Hall Community Centre edging past Blairmont Community Centre by one wicket and Young Warriors recording a 19-run triumph over Blairmont Community Centre on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s encounter between West Berbice and Bermine being washed out at the Rose Hall Community Centre ground, Rose Hall Community Centre and Police, with nine and seven points respectively, from their quota of six preliminary matches have emerged as the winners and runners-up of Zone ‘A’.

Young Warriors who lost to Albion in last year’s final, like Police, also ended on seven points but a defeat at the hands of the lawmen in their preliminary exchanges did not help their cause.

Both Bermine and West Berbice also ended on six points each while Edinburgh in their debut first-division season and Blairmont finished with five and three points respectively.

Rose Hall Community Centre will now match skills with defending champions and Zone ‘B’ runners-up Albion Community Centre while Police will meet Zone ‘A’ runners-up Rose Hall Town Windies Sport Bar (RHTWSB) in the semi-finals set for this Saturday.

In scores from the matches played, at the Blairmont Community Centre ground, the home team posted 134 all out in 26.3 out of their allotted 27 overs after play was cut short by 23 overs per side as a result of rain.

Karamdat Bissondyal led the way with 38 as left-arm spinner Sean Jhetto bagged four for 27, leg-spinner Sasenarine Sukdeo two for 22 and off-spinner Rumesh Munna two for 25.

Rose Hall Community Centre then responded with 139 for nine on 26.5 overs with Rocky Bipat leading the way with 42, Sukdeo 24 and Raffeek Kassim 21 not out.

Bissondyal returned to grab three for 27 while fellow off-spinner Romesh Budhram had two for 22.

Over at the Cumberland ground, in another rain-affected match, Young Warriors, calling correctly and having no hesitation to take first strike, were restricted to 192 for eight at the end of their reduced 35 overs.

Richard Ramdeen top-scored with 45, Ishwar Singh 41, Farouk Hussain 34, Rudolph Baker 24 and Balram Samaroo 22.

Pacer Dwayne Duke snapped up four for 42 and off-spinner Artley Bailey two for 55.

West Berbice replied with 173 all out in 33.1 overs with Bailey making 34, Keith Fraser 26, Ralph Ogle 24 and Dennis Webster 22.

Hussain’s off-spin accounted for four wickets, costing 43 runs and he was well backed up by left-arm spinner Charran Singh with three for 3, bowling for Young Warriors.