Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) held their nerves to record a tense two wicket victory over New Amsterdam Secondary School (NASS) in the New Amsterdam/Canje zone final of the 2016 edition of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL).

The final which was played recently at Cumberland ground saw NASS who batted first and were bundled out for just 94 runs off 27 overs after they were inserted by BEI. Berbice under 15 pacer Nicholas Haywood was the only batsman to offer any resistance with a top score of 24. Another Berbice under 15 pacer, Geevan Shults was the pick of the bowlers for BEI with 3/15 off six overs. Randy Ramnauth also had a 3 wicket haul to finish with 3/16.

BEI in response, required a match winning 9th wicket partnership of 20 to get them across the line in the 27th over. Andrew Southwell and number 10 batsman Isiah Anderson who contributed 3 not out came together with the team precariously place at 68/8 and batted sensibly as Southwell who made 24 not out ‘farmed the strike’ to take control of the game an set up what seem to be an unlikely victory for BEI at one stage. NASS’s Haywood returned with the ball to claim 2/21 while Steffon Peters had 2/19 in a losing effort.

Berbice Educational Institute now joins an elite group of Zone winners in the 2016/17 GCB/NSSCL competition who will be eagerly awaiting the resumption of the GCB/NSSCL which is scheduled for early January 2017.