Essequibo Islands Secondary, Annandale Secondary, Covent Garden Secondary and Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) secured their places in the knockout phase of the Ministry of Education/Beharry Secondary Schools Under-19 T20 Tournament, following an action-packed conclusion to the Final Eight group stage on Thursday.
Justin Dowlin and Luke Amsterdam produced two of the day’s biggest innings, while Annandale delivered an emphatic all-round performance as the competition moved closer to its playoff rounds.
At the Pomona Ground, Essequibo Islands continued their impressive campaign with a crushing 110-run victory over Abram Zuil Secondary. Batting first, Essequibo Islands piled up 167-6 from their 20 overs, powered by another superb innings from opener Dowlin, who blasted 85 from 55 deliveries with nine fours and four sixes. Sudeeni Rodriguez chipped in with 37.
Abram Zuil captain Otis Roberts claimed 3-41 and Naveed Fredericks picked up two wickets, but their efforts could not prevent Essequibo Islands from posting a formidable total. The chase then unravelled as Abram Zuil were bundled out for just 57 in the 13th over, with Roberts’ 11 the only score to reach double figures.
Meanwhile, at the QC Ground, Covent Garden Secondary held their nerve to defeat Queen’s College by seven wickets. Queen’s College posted a competitive 158-5, led by opener Afraz Ali, who struck eight fours in an attractive 57 from 51 balls. Yusuf Ally contributed 26 and Emilio Singh added 17.
Covent Garden’s bowlers shared the wickets, with five different players collecting one apiece, before their batters took control in the chase. Vinesh Kalpoo was the chief architect, smashing 58 from just 31 deliveries with six sixes and two fours, while opener Navindranauth Ram provided early momentum with a brisk 38, including three sixes and a four. Jamele Schultz added 20 before captain Orwin Jordan played the stabilising role, remaining unbeaten on 21 from 42 balls as Covent Garden reached 161-3 in 19.3 overs. Nathaniel Sukhnandan was Queen’s College’s lone wicket-taker, finishing with 2-27.
In Group B, Annandale Secondary overwhelmed West Side High by 101 runs at the Cotton Tree Ground. Annandale amassed 153-3 from their 20 overs, with Ruel Dindyal leading the way with an unbeaten 62. Joshua Bollers made 39, while Akeem Persaud finished unbeaten on 34.
Persaud then starred with the ball, grabbing 3-6, while Kevin Singh claimed 3-10 and Dindyal continued his outstanding tournament with 2-7 as West Side were skittled for 52 in 14.3 overs. Ricardo Danesar’s 17 was the best contribution.
BEI produced Thursday’s most devastating victory, crushing St. Stanislaus College by 202 runs at the QC Ground. Amsterdam and Lemuel Dejonge, among the tournament’s leading run-scorers, tore into the bowling attack as BEI posted a mammoth 223-6. Amsterdam narrowly missed out on a century, hammering 92 with seven fours and three sixes, while Dejonge raced to 62 from just 29 deliveries, decorated with nine fours and three sixes. Gilbert Griffith chipped in with 22.
BEI’s bowlers then ripped through St. Stanislaus, reducing them to a staggering 20-7 as the chase never gained any momentum. National youth spinner Griffith, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, captured 2-10, while fellow national player Brandon Grimmond returned outstanding figures of 2-2 and Nicquan Fraser grabbed 2-5.
The tournament now turns its attention to Sunday’s playoff action, with Annandale Secondary set to battle Abram Zuil Secondary in Eliminator 1 while unbeaten BEI and Essequibo Islands Secondary collide in Qualifier 1, in what shapes up to be one of the tournament’s biggest contests.
