Ogle-Thomas leads from the front as Demerara take 4th female cricket title

Jul 18, 2011 Sports

Berbice were stupendous in the field and their bowlers were impressive but they depend almost exclusively on their dynamic 18-year-old Skipper Shamaine Campbelle with the bat.

We are the Champions! The victorious Demerara team after winning the senior Female Inter-County cricket competition yesterday.

Once she suffered a rare failure yesterday at the Police ground in the deciding final round match in the senior Inter County 50-overs competition, Berbice lost by 33 runs as Demerara captured their fourth consecutive title.
While West Indies player Campbelle was leg before for seven after making a commanding unbeaten 151 on Saturday against Essequibo, her fellow West Indies player and Demerara Captain June Ogle-Thomas continued her impressive form with a solid unbeaten 54 to lead Demerara to 135-3 off their allotted 32 overs.
Berbice were then bowled out for 102 in 28.2 overs as only West Indies left-arm pacer Erva Giddings (17) passed 15 after the overs were reduced from 50 due to a late start caused by seepage under the covers.
A very vocal crowd saw the versatile Campbelle remove Oneka Wallerson (9) in the 16th over of the contest to leave Demerara, who won the toss and opted to bat on a slow track, on 39-1.
While Giddings was stunning at backward point, all of the Berbice fielders showed brilliance and commitment in a fielding display of the highest order as they kept the shackles on the Demerara batters in sweltering heat.
Victoria Bacchus joined Ogle-Thomas, who made 131 not out in the opening round against Essequibo and the pair took the score to 90 before Bacchus, who tried to release the pressure with positive batting, seemed very unfortunate to be give leg before to left-arm spinner Nikita Toney for an entertaining 41-ball 26.
After the demise of Bacchus, who stroked Toney for two boundaries in her first over, the powerful Abina Parker (14) added 35 for the third wicket with Ogle-Thomas before she was deceived by 13-year-old off-spinner Phaffiana Millington and was stumped at 125-3.
Ogle-Thomas, who got going with an immaculate straight driven boundary in the day’s second over, worked the ball into the gaps and put the bad balls away as she reached the boundary three times in her 83-ball 54 to take her run-tally in the competition to 185 from two innings.
When Berbice began their reply West Indies player Tremaine Smartt (7) and her opening partner Kanata Mentore (1) were both run out to leave the visitors in early trouble on 14-2.
And when the burly Prudence Williams trapped Campbelle in front at 32-3 in the ninth over, the victory celebrations has already began both on and off the field.
Melanie Henry (9) and Trishanie Cort (11) offered some fight before Henry was brilliantly caught by Kavita Yadram running back from mid-wicket at 48-4 as National left-arm spinner Joann Van Sertima struck.
Giddings and Cort kept hopes alive but once Cort was stumped off Hemma Singh and Giddings was taken at extra cover off Williams the contest was as good as over although West Indies pacer Sabrina Munroe finished unbeaten on nine towards the end.
Williams ended with 3-11, Van Sertima 2-20 and Hemma Singh 2-17 for Demerara who collected the winning trophy with their victory despite some sloppy work in the outfield at times. (Sean Devers)