Latest update December 5th, 2025 12:30 AM
Gutsy Essequibo dethrone Berbice to claim maiden title
2025 GCB Senior Women’s 50-Over Inter-county tournament finals…
Essequibo are the new GCB Senior Women’s 50-Over Inter-county Champs.
– Latoya (32*)/Laurene Williams (35) star in historic win
Kaieteur Sports – Arguably one of the gutsiest performances of the tournament paid off for the Essequibian Ladies who not only upset but snatched the title from grasps of the Berbicians to create history by becoming new champs, following yesterday’s thrilling final at the LBI Ground.
Defending champs Berbice entered not only the finals but the competition as favorites, having overcome the mighty Demerara and newcomers Hinterland Women ; in order to set up a final versus a team which they steamrolled a few rounds back.
Opening the batting in the most important game of the tournament, Tiea Isaacs stood tall amongst her teammates, carving 47 from 87 with six fours and should have gotten a half-century for carrying the Berbicians to 134-10 by the end of the 38th over.
Berbice reshuffled the batting order a bit, which allowed the other in-form batters in Sheneta Grimmond (12) and Plaffianna Millington (12) to have a bit more time in the middle.
Latoya and Laurene Williams swung the match for their team yesterday.
Despite losing the big wickets of Crystal Durant (0) and Sherica Campbell (7), it was Isaacs who kept the innings alive as she dug in alongside the other main scorers to help ward off a brilliant 3-headed attack from Essequibo.
No other Berbice player got going apart from the aforementioned trio, a credit to the Essequibians bowlers led by the trio of Nikesha Narine, who had a brilliant spell returning 4-33 with help from a few of the competition’s leading bowlers in Tramaine Marks (2-22) and Kumarie Persaud (2-22).
Essequibo then fumbled their start to what should be considered a gettable total, before recovering thanks to the Williams sisters, Finals MVP Latoya for her unbeaten, gritty 32 off 69 (2×4) and Laurene’s 77-ball 35, which initially swung the game back in favor of Essequibo.
Essequibo, after losing the big wickets of openers Marks (16) and Persaud (0), who gave good performances earlier with the ball along with number 3 batsman, Shonette Welcome (8), who hung around before joining the two openers as victims of a rampant Millington.
Despite crossing 50 in reasonable time, Essequibo with their top-order back in the pavilion, then looked to Williams alongside a decent lot of the remaining batsmen to help take them home.
Laurene and Latoya, were then tasked with dropping anchor as Essequibo’s target entered into the 80’s with almost 30 overs left in the game.
But with Laurene dismissed, Latoya continued to press onwards as she took the deficit to single digits with 2 of her mates left to come but essentially got over the ropes with time, wickets and overs remaining.
Cyanna Retemiah (8*) played an important hand to help ease the pressure, as she and Williams were greeted by members of an ecstatic Essequibo camp.
Millington ended with 3-19 with support coming from Campbell (2-26) and Durant (1-18).
Players will now turn their attention to the T20 Series. (Clifton Ross)
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