Cotton Tree Die Hard defeat D’Edward to earn place in the Final

Sep 28, 2012 Sports

Hand-In-Hand Second Division 40-Over Cricket Competition in West Berbice

Cotton Tree Die Hard registered a relatively easy 48-run victory over D’Edward to earn a place in the final of the Hand-In-Hand Second Division 40-Over Cricket Competition which is organized by the Berbice Cricket Board for teams in West Berbice.
In the semi-final which was reduced to 35 overs-a-side and which was played at the Cotton Tree ground,

Jagdeo Persaud

Cotton Tree Die Hard won toss and decided to take first strike. They had a start of 60 runs from Jagdeo Persaud and Roshan Gafoor before the hard hitting Persaud fell for 41 which included 5 fours and 3 sixes.
Gafoor continued with Ishwar Singh and the two of them put on another valuable 40 runs for the second wicket before they both, Gafoor for 30 and Singh for 18, fell in quick succession, leaving Cotton Tree in a good position at 110 for 3. With Fizal Khan slamming 33 and Nashad Gafoor 29, Cotton Tree reached 214 all-out in their 35 overs. Bowling for D’Edward, Derick Narine-Lalsa took 3 for 31, Navendra Rampersaud 3 for 21 and former Berbice all-rounder, Eon Abel 2 for 57.
When D’Edward began their response, they lost two early wickets to the opening pacers Nashad Gafoor and Azal Haroon to be 6 for 2. There was a recovery of sorts when Lakeraj Sookra and Narine-Lalsa put on a valuable 42 for the 3rd wicket. After Sookra fell for 31, Narine-Lalsa and Eon Abel rattled up 80 between them to put D’Edward in a comfortable position.
However, after off spinner, Roshan Gafoor removed Narine-Lalsa for 40 and left arm spinner, Waqar Hassan had Abel caught for 49, the innings suffered a decline as Hassan picked up three more wickets that were mainly responsible for D’Edward being bowled out for 166 in 24 overs. Bowling for Cotton Tree Die Hard, Waqar Hassan took 4 for 35 and Azal Horoon 2 for 27.
Cotton Tree Die Hard will be meeting with the other winning semi-finalist, Hopetown United, in the final which is scheduled for Sunday at the Bush Lot Ground in West Berbice.