By Zaheer Mohamed
Berbice were crowned champions of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior female inter county 50-over tournament by defeating Demerara in the final round game at Everest Cricket club on Saturday. Demerara were required to be at 146 when play was halted after 22 overs.
Berbice posted 168-9 after the game was reduced to 26 overs due to two interruptions caused by early morning rain.
Asked to bat in hazy conditions the visitors were reduced to 12-2 in four overs. Katana Mentore (00) was bowled by Leana Harris, while Akaze Thompson, who led the home team instead of the injured June Ogle, uprooted the stumps of Melanie Henry (05). Trishanie Cort (08) was then run out attempting an ill advise single to leave Berbice at 46-3 before Campbell and Tremayne Smartt resurrected the innings with a fourth wicket stand of 87.The duo started cautiously before unleashing some lusty blows.
Campbell, who was dropped twice, drove Haseena Mohamed down the ground and smashed Hema Singh and Joan Vansertima for maximums while Smartt thumped Vansertima over the midwicket fence. Campbell then hit Thompson for a boundary to bring up her fifty off 49 balls before she was bowled by the said bowler for 67; she slammed six fours and two sixes.
Smartt soon followed caught of Mandy Mangru for 36 (1×4). The visitors then lost Erva Giddings (02), Jennifer Keyley (04), Steffi Rodney (01) and Natasha Gangoo (00) in the hunt for quick runs, but Subrina Munroe with an unbeaten 18 and Plaffiana Millington (01*) saw Berbice to a respectable total. Harris was the pick of the bowlers with 3-23, while Vansertima claimed 2-25, Thompson 2 -36 and Mangru 1-32.
Consistent bowling by the Berbicians restricted Demerara to 79-7 when bad light stop play.
Demerara were off to a slow start with Latoya Smith and Odessa O’Neil adding 37 in 11.5 overs before Smith was LBW to left arm seamer Erva Giddings for 19. O’Neil (16) and Kavita Yadram (01) were needlessly run out as the host slipped to 41-3. Thompson (08) and Lashanna Toussaint (10) put together 19 for the fourth wicket but off spinner Gangoo accounted for them both to maintain the pressure on the host. Spinner Rodney then sent back Heema Singh (06) and Harris (00) to leave the score at 78-7 in fading light. Haseena Mohamed (02*) and Mangru (00*) were at the wickets when play was halted at 79-7. Gangoo captured 2-10, Rodney 2-15 and Giddings 1-16 for the winners.