B’ce hammer Demerara by 9 wickets to take the double

By Sean Devers
DEFENDING Champions Berbice proved to be a well-oiled unit as they romped to an emphatic nine-wicket win against Demerara in the final round of the GCB’ senior Women’s Inter-County tournament at Bourda yesterday.

It took Berbice, who won the T20 Title last week, less than an hour to reach 59-1 in 15.3 overs replying to the host’s paltry 58 all out from 32.3 overs in a one-sided encounter to lift their 10th consecutive 50-over title.

A useful all-round performance from MVP of the match, Realeana Grimmond who took 2-21 and hit the winning run to remain unbeaten on 29 from 48 balls with four boundaries, fast tracked the Berbice run-chase.

Demerara, was led by cautious 21 with two fours from teenager Tilleya Madramootoo who batted in sweltering heat for an hour and 15 minutes; facing 75 balls.

The elegant Sara Amin (13) was the only other Demerara batter to reach double figures in ideal batting conditions at the venue where 60 Test centuries were scored between 1930 and 2005.

Bowling for Berbice, Omadevi Matadin had 3-34 while off-spinner and West Indies U-19 captain Ashmini Munisar, the leading wicket taker in this tournament, followed up her four-wicket haul in her previous match with 2-6.

Pacer Realeana Grimmond and her unrelated namesake Sheneta Grimmond had two wickets each.

Demerara won the toss and opted to bat on a lightning fast outfield and quickly lost 18-year-old Malteenoes player Naomi Barkoye for duck at 3-1 in the fourth over.

Realeana Grimmond struck again when she had Anita Hendricks (0) caught and bowled, at 19-2.

Amin joined Madramootoo, who like Barkoye, plays in the Malteenoes Boys U-19 team.

Amin played two classy back foot punches for cover boundaries; off Sheneta Grimmond and experienced off-spinner Plaffiana Millington, who had the last laugh when Amin was bowled at 34-3.

Skipper Kaysia Schultz (0) and Lynda Sylvan (4) were removed by Sheneta Grimmond to leave the home team on the ropes at 45-5.

When Madramootoo’s carefully constructed innings ended; lbw to Matadin 52-6, Demerara lost their five wickets for just six runs in a dramatic collapse.

Berbice, the only team to play unbeaten, lost Marian Samaroo (11) at 31-1 before Realeana Grimmond (the most outstanding player of the tournament) and Katana Mentore (6) saw their team to victory.