… Police also advance

CENTURIES from Guyana opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon and Veerapen Permaul spearheaded Albion Community Centre to a huge victory over hosts Port Mourant in their semi-final fixture of the 2013 Berbice Cricket Board/Ramcharitar Construction Service first division competition, last Saturday.In the match played at Port Mourant, Albion won the toss, batted first and benefited from a 79-run opening stand between Chattergoon and Adrian Sukhwa (23), before Permaul joined Chattergoon to add 137 for the second wicket.
When Chattergoon went for 103 (14×4), Permaul continued despite losing national wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble (5) at 245 for 3. He found a useful partner Devendra Bishoo who was unbeaten on 38, to guide Albion to 316 for 3 from their 50 overs, with Permaul finishing unbeaten on 101 (10×4).
When Port Mourant replied, they were faced with an all-spin attack and could only manage 204 in 43.5 overs despite an enterprising 62 (3×4, 3×6) from Tony McKenzie and 42 from Nicholas Cameron.
Bowling for Albion, West Indies Under-19 left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie took 4 for 44, Permaul 2 for 20 and Asif Ali 2 for 34 as the visitors won the contest by 112 runs.
Meanwhile, Police also earned the right to advance to the final after surprisingly and comfortably defeating Young Warriors at the latter’s home ground in Cumberland.
In the match that was reduced to 35 overs a side because of a late start due to preparation moisture, Police, asked to take first strike, reached a more than healthy 241 for 9, due mainly to Michael Newland’s blistering 22-ball 56.
Kwesi Mickle (30), Philbert Willburgh 26 and Rocky Hutson 20 offered support to Newland as Kevin Ramdeen took 3 for 50 and Suresh Dhanai 2 for 48 for Young Warriors whose openers Sasenarine Sukhdeo and Vishal Mohabir added 88 for the first wicket from 16.2 overs.
When Sukhdeo was bowled for 51 (6×4), and Mohabir was run-out for 34, Young Warriors got no respite from medium pacer Kurt Griffith who ripped through the middle order picking up four consecutive wickets to see them fall to 119 for 6.
Videsh Singh who made a half-century in the previous round and Rudolph Baker tried to repair the damage but after they had put on 36 between them, they both fell in quick succession, Singh for 56 (6×4) and Baker for 10.
Young Warriors eventually fell for 174 in 31.3 overs to lose the contest by 69 runs. Griffith took 4 for 37 and Albert Sinclair 3 for 25 to guide Police into the final.