Latest update May 4th, 2026 12:35 AM
Sep 11, 2008 Sports
Set 172 to win in the final session after Berbice declared their second innings
closed on 131-5, Essequibo reached 65-7 off 24 overs in their second innings to deny defending champions Berbice an outright victory yesterday on the final day of their two-day CLICO under-17 Inter-County cricket match at the Rose Hall Community Centre ground in Canje, East Berbice.
When play finally began at noon after an early lunch was taken due to seepage onto the pitch from morning rain, Essequibo defied the Berbice bowlers for 23.5 overs as they progressed from 80-7 to 140 from 46.5 overs.
Left-arm spinner Anthony Adams (29) and national under-15 fast bowler Neil Ramalho (32) led the late order fight back with an important 52-run eighth wicket before Adams, the leading wicket taker in the competition, was run out as Berbice finally managed to make the break-through at 126-8.
The visitors cut the lead to 40 by the time they were all out as Berbice battled both the Essequibians and the clock on a good track.
Off-spinner Jomal La Fleur finished with 4-27 and left-arm spinner Clinton Carmichael 3-23 for the home team, who were desperately looking for an outright win to go into the final and deciding round level on points with Demerara who beat Essequibo outright in the opening round last Sunday.
Berbice lost the dangerous Harrinarine Chattergoon when the right-handed Skipper and younger brother of West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon, was removed for five at 7-1 by pacer Kevin Fredericks.
National middle order batsman Jamally Odle stepped on the gas and stroked four fours and a six in an entertaining 54 as Berbice hunted quick runs to set up a declaration.
Clinton Pestano followed up his first innings 32 with another good performance before he departed for 30 as Berbice declared after batting for 24 overs.
Fredericks and Ramalho picked up two wickets each while Rensford Beaten collected the other wicket to fall for Essequibo.
Herell Greene top scored with 19 but nobody else offered resistance while three batsmen were run out as Berbice tried desperately to pull something out of the bag for a sensational win.
However, the time was just not enough as Essequibo survived to the close to collect their first set of points in the competition and leave Berbice needing an outright win to retain their title when they clash with Demerara from tomorrow at Wales in West Demerara.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.