THE Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy (RHTPP) Under-13 team has started their defence of the Berbice Cricket Board Under-13 Championship with three consecutive victories in the BCB/Singh Brothers Tournament.
The RHTPP Team had won the last tournament in 2024 when they defeated the Rose Hall Canje team by five wickets to lift their third title in six years.
The team in 2025 is being led by Berbice youth Jayden Ganpat, who has so far taken 10 wickets with his left arm spin while the highly talented Khemraj Bharrat has spearheaded the defending champions batting with solid batting in the three games.
In the matches played over three consecutive days, Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy defeated Albion B, Port Mourant Cricket Club and Albion A to emerge as the champions of Zone C and advance to the quarter-finals.
RHT Poonai Pharmacy batted first against Albion B in the 30 allotted overs at the Albion Sports Complex and reached 210 for 6 with Khemraj Bharrat scoring 45 not out, Akeem Fraser 34, Jayden Ganpat 31, Randy Williams 17, Dishan La Cruz 16 and Joshua Dhanraj 14 not out. Albion B in response were bowled out for 86 runs in 28 overs as Dishan LaCruz took four for 15, and Bharrat two for nine in five impressive overs. The RHTPP team won by 124 runs.
On Monday, they crushed Port Mourant by 130 runs at the Port Mourant ground. Batting first after winning the toss, the visitors amassed a solid score of 220 for four from 30 overs with Royston Crandon top scoring with a solid 71, which included six delightful boundaries. Crandon received support from Justin Hicks, 32 not out, Khemraj Bharrat, 30 not out and Akeem Fraser 20.
In reply, PMCC were shot out for 90 in 28 overs with only S Samaroo reaching double figures with 17. The twin pair of left arm spinners Jayden Ganpat and Khemraj Bharrat were the main destroyers with four for 11 and four for seven respectively. Anthony Srikissoon took one for 20.
In the final Zone C match, Albion A won the toss at the Area H Ground and decided to take first strike in brilliant sunlight. They were never allowed to score freely as pacers Disham LaCrux and Anthony Srikissoon bowled a tight line and length. Albion crawled to 30 for one wicket at the end of the tenth over.
The introduction of the twin left arm spin duo, Ganpat and Bharrat added more pressure. Albion were restricted to 120 for 8 off their allotted 30 overs. Extras top scored with 33 while Sahid Gajnabi scored a solid 31 with two boundaries and a six.
Daniel Johnson scored 14 runs and Nicholas Madramootoo 10, while Ganpat claimed four wickets for 18 runs from six very impressive overs and Akeem Fraser two for 18 from four overs.
Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy in reply reached 122 for seven in 27 overs as Bharrat continued his impressive form with the bat with a solid 41 inclusive of four boundaries while Justin Hicks made 16 and Fraser 14. Randy Williams also contributed a vital ten not out to lead the defending champions over the line. Daniel Johnson was the most successful bowler for Albion with two wickets for nine runs from three overs.
The tournament is being sponsored by the Singh Brothers Company and involves twelve teams divided into four zones.
