Berbice meets Demerara in the final today after they defeated Essequibo by 79 runs at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday in the GCB/HIH U-19 50-Overs Inter-County Competition 2016.
Berbice batted first and got off to a shaky start losing their first wicket with the score on 12, as Keemo Paul had Adrian Sukwah caught mark Williams for five. Sasenarine Sookhoo then followed caught by wicket keeper Nathan Persaud off Keemo Paul for two. Opener Alex Algu who seems to be applying himself self was caught and bowl by Reyad khan for 17, with the score at 50/3.
Mathew Haridial and Brandon Prashad then came together and attempted a valuable recovery by taking the Berbice score to 119 before the lost their fourth wicket in Brandon Prashad caught by Siddiq Mohamed for 20.
However, the efforts of Mathew Haridial and Brandon Prashad was partially affected by the fall of four quick wickets, as Jameer Inshan, Joel Seetaram, Sylus Tyndell and Ezeklel Kempado of fell within a space of nine runs.
Raymond Vankenic then joined Mathew Haridial, who was batting well and together took the score to 141 before losing their ninth wicket in middle order batsman Mathew Haridial caught Akinie Adams off the bowling of Siddiq Mohamed. Asif Ally and Raymond Vankenic then took the 146/9, off 46 overs.
Bowling for Essequibo, Siddiq Mohamed took 4/34, Keemo Paul 3/28, while Reyaz Khan and Akinie Adams took one wicket apiece.
Further, the reduction of the allotted 50 overs to 46 due to rain, meant that Essequibo needed a victory target of 156 under the Duckworth Lewis-Stern method.
In reply Essequibo, Essequibo seemed set at 39/1 off seven overs when once again rain interrupted play, thereby resulting in a further reduction of the overs from 46 to 40. With a revised Duckworth Lewis-Stern method, Essequibo was required to make 146 off 40 overs.
On resumption, Essequibo went into a state of bother, losing quick wickets and in the process, making the victory target a daunting task.
Sylos Tyndell bowled impressively, having prior to the interruption bowled Nathan Persaud for five, he continued to execute is art well, removing opener Mark Williams bowled for 24 and Keemo Paul bowled for duck.
Joel Seetaram also continued his good form by having Sachin Singh bowled for duck, Siddig Mohamed caught by Algo for 12, Looknauth Chinchoo caught by Inshan for six and Johnathan Fernandes dismissed caught for duck.
Ally removed Akinie Adams Caught by wicket keeper Sukwah without scoring, Leshey Allen LBW for duck and stumped by wicket keeper Sukwah for four.
From the resumption of play, after the rain interrupted break, Essequibo didn’t looked the part, fell into bad slut and never recovered, eventually only being able to muster 67 all out, to give Berbice an unpredicted victory.
Today’s final is at the Guyana National Stadium.