Berbice retains T20 title

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Berbice’s dominance in senior inter-county cricket continued after they added another title to their collection. The power house, playing under their sponsor, Cellink, effortlessly brushed aside the Rest Team by nine wickets on Friday evening at the National Stadium, Providence. 

Sewnarine Chattergoon sent a strong message to the national selectors with a fluent 61 (4 × 4, 2 × 6) in the one-sided affair, as Berbice overhauled the Rest Team’s total of 108-9 in a match that was shortened to 18 overs due to rain. Berbice finished on 109-1 in 16.4 overs. Chattergoon was unbeaten on 61, and the out-of-touch Narsingh Deonarine scored 30. 

The Rest Team had earlier won the toss and had elected to bat. They were off to a flambouyant start, provided by national opening batsman Shemroy Barrington. 

The right hander hit three boundaries in the second over off Keon Joseph to get things started, after Eusan Crandon had bowled a first over maiden to Maxie De Jonge. 

Barrington hit the ball ferociously, straight-driving Royston Crandon for a boundary in the fourth over, before hitting Eusan Crandon for two massive sixes in the next over. 

De Jonge got into the act by cutting left arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Premaul to the third man boundary in the sixth over. 

Both openers looked to be setting up the Rest Team for a big total when things changed as De Jonge was caught by Joseph on the midwicket boundary off the last ball of the sixth over for 11, ending a 49-run opening partnership. Barrington’s array of strokes ended in the seventh over, when he was caught and bowled for 35 by Deonarine, the leading wicket taker in the tournament. He had hit three fours and two sixes from 24 deliveries. 

With both openers back in the dugout, the Rest Team slipped from a position of 50 for 2 to 71 for 6 in the 12th over. 

Trevon Griffith was stumped by Hicks off Royston Crandon for 4, at 54 for 3. Andrew Lyght Jr. was bowled for four as he attempted a swipe at Bishoo; who then removed skipper Gajanand Singh, caught at short extra cover for six. The collapse continued with Deon Ferrier going ‘hit wicket’ off a Permaul faster delivery.

Wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble tried to force a short ball and was caught and bowled for three, sinking the Rest Team to 81 for 7 in the 14th over. Vishal Singh, who is more at home in the longer version of the game, was caught at the wicket off Bishoo (3 for 19) for eight.

Kellon Carmichael briefly showcased his all-round ability by smashing Deonarine to the forward square boundary to bring up his team’s 100 off 16.5 overs. Carmichael next cut Royston Crandon to the backward square boundary, before he was bowled by Crandon (2 for 22) off the last ball of the innings, leaving the Rest Team on 108 for 9. La Fleur was not out on 7. 

When Cellink Berbice replied, former West Indies opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon played a series of shots.

He smashed off-spinner Steven Latcha for two boundaries in his opening over, before Richard Ramdeen, who looked out of sorts at the beginning of the innings, was finally caught at midwicket by Eugene La Fleur off Kellon Carmichael for 5. 

Meanwhile, Chattergoon continued with his aggressive approach. 

He hit Eugene La Fleur for a maximum over cover, posting Cellink Berbice’s 50 in 7.5 overs. 

Chattergoon then swept Deon Ferrier for six over square leg in his first over, before guiding Gajanand Singh to the third man boundary. 

Rain intervened in the 13th over, with Chattergoon on 54 and Deonarine on 19, and the score on 81 for 1. At that point, Cellink Berbice was ahead, using the Duckworth Lewis method. 

The resumption saw both Chattergoon and Deonarine taking their team home at 109 for 1 with 1.2 overs to spare. 

At the presentation ceremony, president of the Guyana Cricket Board, Chetram Singh, congratulated Cellink Berbice for winning the title for the second consecutive year. 

He said that Cellink Berbice deserved the title, since they played the game in its true spirit throughout the tournament. Singh also mentioned that this tournament was used to select the best possible team to defend Guyana’s Regional T20 title that was won last July. 

DDL Brand Executive (Pepsi) Alexis Crawford said that DDL is once again pleased to be associated with this year’s tournament.