AFTER all of the first round matches had to be postponed the previous weekend the 2012 Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Ramcharitar Construction Services-sponsored first-division limited overs knockout competition finally got going last Saturday with three first round matches.

Universal DVD Club Young Warriors, Edinburgh and West Berbice all advanced to the second round, with Gajanand Singh’s unbeaten ton which was scored for Universal DVD Club Young Warriors, being the highlight of the round.
Singh slammed 10 fours and one six in his unbeaten 107, which, along with Richard Ramdeen, 40, Seon Hetmyer 29 and Ishwar Singh and Shimron Hetmyer 20 each, piloted Universal DVD Club Young Warriors to 233 for 7 against Port Mourant Karibee Rice, for whom Berbice Under-19 off-spinner, Boughnarine Persaud, took 4 for 24 at the Port Mourant ground.
In reply, the home team were bowled out for 141 in 41.2 overs with Persaud topscoring with 32, while Mahendra Veerasammy 31 and Chandrasekhar Arjune 23 offered support against the bowling of Balram Samaroo (3-35), Vishal Mohabir (2-18) and Kevin Ramdeen (2-30).
Leg-spinner, Shafeek Khan, took 4 for 7 from 3.4 overs for Edinburgh when they bowled out debutant Bush Lot United Rising Star for 140 and came back with the bat to hit a responsible 38, which guided Edinburgh to a seven-wicket win.
Former Berbice off-spinner Krishendat Ramoo took 4 for 10 from his 10 overs for West Berbice, to engineer Bermine being bowled out for 147, as West Berbice went on to win by four wickets.
In scores from the remaining two matches;
At Edinburgh: Edinburgh beat Bush Lot United Rising Star by 7 wickets. Bush Lot United Rising Star, losing the toss and sent in to take first strike, made 140 in 38 overs with Keno Gravesande contributing 38.
Bowling for Edinburgh, Shafeek Khan 4 for 7 and off-spinner Raid Ali 3 for 13, before Khan struck 38 and Chris Yadram 24, as Edinburgh reached 141 for 3 from 27.1 overs in reply to complete a comfortable victory.
At Bush Lot in West Berbice: West Berbice beat Memorex Bermine by 4 wickets.
Memorex Bermine, winning the toss and choosing to take first strike, made 146 all out in 46.4 overs with Joemal La Fleur 28 and Stephen Latcha 22 leading their batting against the bowling of Krishendat Ramoo (4-28), Ron Johnson (3-28) and Steffon Adams (2-12).
West Berbice in reply, reached 148 or 5 from 39.2 overs, thanks to Sherwin McPherson (35) and Ramoo (23), while Eugene La Fleur took 2 for 9 from 7 overs of left-arm orthodox spin for Memorex Bermine.