Former champions, Barataria Ball Players, will meet Savannah Boys in the final of the North Zone 40 Over tournament on Sunday 11 May, at the Queen’s Royal College Ground. The game starts at 12 noon.
In the first semifinal, played at Glenora Sports Club, Savannah Boys faced North Side Future Stars. Captain Verune Ramnarine won the toss for Savannah Boys and opted to bowl. The decision immediately bore fruit as North Side lost two quick wickets, Geleano Romany (0) and Kwesi Fournillier (5), both to Chetram Ramlall who had match figures of 5/34.
Akiel Guerra (48) and Captain Kendall Guerra (40) temporarily slowed the Savannah Boys bowlers with a partnership of 64 before Kendall Guerra fell to Ravindra Naidoo with the score on 71. The first of 5 wickets for Naidoo 5/26.
Naidoo then removed Terrence James without scoring, with the score still 71. Akiel Guerra found a willing partner in Kifah Hernandez (16) and took the score to 130 before Chetram Ramlall struck again, removing Guerra. North Side eventually folded for 150 in 33.3 overs.
When Savannah Boys batted, they were off to a similar start to North Side’s, losing their first two wickets for just 15 runs on the scoresheet, Praveen Ali (1) and Vijai Teemal (7) the batters to fall, Terrence James taking both scalps.
Naresh Persaud (46) and Skipper Verune Ramnarine (38) repaired North Side’s earlier inroads, scoring 97 before Kifah Hernandez dismissed Ramnarine. Persaud then fell to Darell Dennison with the score on 124/4. Aneesh Sookoo (17) was the last success for North Side.
Summarized scores: North Side Future Stars 150-10 in 30.3 overs ( Akiel Guerra 48, Kendall Guerra 40, Kifah Hernandez 16, Ravindra Naidoo 5/26, Chetram Ramlall 5/34 vs Savannah Boys 153 for 5 in 20.4 overs (Naresh Persaud 46, Verune Ramnarine 38, Aneesh Sookoo 17, Terrence James 2/30, 2/46). Savannah Boys won by 5 wickets.
In the other semifinal, the only Division One team left in the tournament The Harvard Club, was hoping for an upset against Barataria Ball Players, former holders of the trophy.
Harvard won the toss and elected to field first. It seemed a good decision when Barataria slumped to 44/6 in 9.5 overs. Andre Yard (3/52) and Jerome Simpson (3/38) sharing six wickets between them for Harvard.
Carl Vialva (50) and skipper Derron Wilson (45) rescued Barataria, getting to 169/10 in 32.1 overs. Glen Narine (3/14) picking up the last three Barataria wickets.
Chasing 170 for victory, Harvard got off to a decent start with Yohance Kwesi (26) and Keegan Jones (19) taking the score to 42 for the first wicket. Jones fell to a disastrous runout, which quickly eroded Harvard’s chances of pulling off the victory, slumping to 59/5.
Israel Belle, North Zone U19 youth player (38 no), and Amando Phillips (19) had other ideas. The pair set about the restorative work with some aggressive stroke play. The pair took the score to 94 before disaster struck. Phillips was run out looking for a sharp single to Barataria’s skipper Derron Wilson, who made no mistake. Harvard eventually folded for 134.
Summarised scores: Barataria Ball Players 169-10 in 32.1 overs (Carl Vialva 50, Derron Wilson 45, Joey Samuel 16, Glen Narine 3/14, Jerome Simpson 3/28, Andre Yard 3/52 vs The Harvard Club 134-10 in 28.1 overs (Israel Belle 38*, Yohance Kwesi 26, Keegan Jones 19, Derron Wilson 3/37, Carl Vialva 2/19. Barataria Ball Players won by 35 runs.
