Vikash Wilkinson, adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the tournament, has led the Demerara U17 team to a five-wicket win against arch-rivals Berbice in the final of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) Under-17 Inter-County tournament, played at Everest Cricket Club Ground in Georgetown.
Demerara clinched the championship after successfully chasing 215 runs. Batting first, Berbice posted 214 all out in 47.4 overs, while Demerara ended their chase on 217-5 in 45.5 overs.
Earlier in the day, Berbice openers Rampersaud Ramnauth and Kevin Kisten had posted 59 runs for the first wicket. Ramnauth was the eventual top-scorer with 66, for which this solid right-hander had faced 93 balls and stroked six fours and one six. Kisten made 38 from 27 balls.
Romesh Bharrat, another rock-solid right-hander, made 37 from 90 balls, which included three boundaries. He featured in an 83-run stand with Ramnauth as Berbice were firm with 156-3 after 34.5 overs.
Demerara bowlers came back into the back end of the game and restricted Berbice. The last seven Berbice wickets fell for 58 runs, as Alex Datterdeen took 2-28 in 10 overs and Neeran Bani bowled an economical spell of 2-30 in 10 overs. Shane Prince had 2-31 in 4.4 overs to cap off the collective bowling effort.
Demerara took the momentum in their chase, as Deonarine, Dindyal and Wilkinson added 41 runs in 7.5 overs. Dindyal departed for five, but Wilkinson continued to score, and bossed the game. His match-winning 84 came off 82 balls and included 11 fours and three sixes.
Wilkinson featured in a 75-run stand with Ryan Latif as Demerara were in cruise control at 116-2 after 24.2 overs. Then Nicholas Shieopersaud made 46 to ensure Demerara register a championship win against Berbice.
The Berbice bowlers were expensive and not effective, but Justin Doobay had 1-27 in nine overs.
At the presentation ceremony, Jonathan Van Lange was awarded for accumulating most runs, with 186 runs; Matthew Pottoya had the most wickets – seven – while wicketkeeper batsman Vickash Wilkinson earned the MVP trophy with a total of 168 runs and 6 dismissals with the gloves. (Gtimes)