29
GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, September 8, 2016
Tenelec Inc. continues support of Berbice Cricket TENELEC Inc, based in Washington, USA, has renewed its sponsorship of Under-15 and Senior 50over cricket in Berbice for the 2016 season. During the launching ceremony recently, Anil Beharry, president of the BCB, thanked Bobby Deonarine and Tom Gruntzel of Tenelec Inc., a company based in Washington, for its continued support to the BCB. He added that this company has been providing vital support for the board for over a decade and is a major player in the success of Berbice cricket. He said that all the Berbicians currently representing the West Indies, Guyana and Berbice are products of these competitions, making special mention of Narsingh Deonarine, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin, Brandon Bess, Keon Joseph, Royston
Bobby Deonarine (third right) hands over the sponsorship cheque to Anil Beharry, president of the BCB, in the presence of other board members and representatives Crandon, Shimron Hetmyer ment is the pinnacle of the of this opportunity provided Imtiaz Bacchus, member and Gudakesh Motie among career of any local cricketer by the board through this of BCB and president of Alwho doesn’t make the na- sponsorship. many others. bion Cricket Club, expressed Beharry further dis- tional team. He advised them to be his gratitude to the sponsor Vice-president of BCB disciplined, work hard and and reminded the gathering closed that while the BCB is in favour of the national and Human Resource Man- commit themselves to the that the most important facet league, he called on the ager of GuySuCo (Albion game. He further mentioned of the game is sponsorship. GCB to bring back the Estate), Vemen Walter, urged that even those who do not Secretary of the Guyana Inter-county senior cricket the gathering, made up of make it to the top can still Cricket Board and Director competition, adding that many young and aspiring lead a comfortable life finan- of the West Indies Crickthe Inter-county tourna- cricketers, to make full use cially. et Board, Anand Sanasie,
Pliskova earns breakthrough win to reach US Open semis By Steve Keating NEW YORK, NY (Reuters) - Karolina Pliskova, a grand slam underachiever, took a big step towards shedding that unwanted label by sweeping past Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh 6-2, 6-2 yesterday to roar into the semi-finals of the US Open. Pliskova arrived at Flushing Meadows as the only player ranked inside the top 20 yet to reach the fourth round at one of tennis’s four blue riband events but the 10th-seeded Czech made her trip to the semis look like nothing new as she overwhelmed 18-year-old Konjuh in 57 minutes. “It’s an amazing feeling, I am so excited to be in my first semi-final especially in this tournament I very much love New York and hard court season,” said Pliskova, who will next face either world number one Serena Williams or Romanian fifth seed Simona Halep. “I think I played a very
Karolina Pliskova good match today. “I did a quick break in the first game which helped me and I was more calm then and going for my shots.” The big-hitting Czech,
who has fired more aces this season than any other player, opened the match with a bang, breaking the unsteady teen on her opening two serves en route to a 4-0 lead.
Pliskova lost only one point on serve in the opening set as she swept past the reeling Croatian in 28 minutes. Konjuh began to find some rhythm and confidence near the end of the first and start of the second but could not keep it going and again found herself down a break 3-2. At that point there was no way back for the 92ndranked Croatian as Pliskova steamrolled through four straight games finishing her opponent off with back-toback aces. “I wasn’t at my best level today for sure, but she was just too good,” said Konjuh, who upset fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the quarter-finals. “Her serve is just too good. “Today on the court, you know, she found her rhythm and took the opportunities that I gave her. “This is a great result for me. Now I know that I got that something to be in the top.”
graced the occasion and commended the BCB for securing such a significant sponsorship during these times when sponsors are hard to come by. He stated that the BCB has to be doing something good to impress their sponsors, forging long-lasting partnerships. He also thanked Bobby Deonarine for his continued input into the game in Berbice giving many youngsters an opportunity to change their lives for good. He promised that very soon the GCB will build a modern hostel, indoor facility and board office in Berbice to benefit all. In response, Deonarine, a partner of Tenelec Inc., praised the work of the BCB and expressed the confidence his company has in the work of the board. of the GCB.
ICC pitch consultant concludes two-day workshop
TWENTY-FIVE curators from ten Caribbean countries and the University of Trinidad and Tobago concluded a two-day workshop under the guidance of International Cricket Council (ICC) Pitch Consultant Andy Atkinson. The workshop concluded yesterday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. According to a WICB media release, the workshop took a comprehensive look at pitch allocation, rotation, maintenance, draining, and outfield management. It also offered technical guidelines for the participants. “The workshop is timely,” according to Director of Cricket, Richard Pybus. “This workshop should serve to assist our curators around the region with additional information on how to maintain and improve their respective pitches.’ The Director of Cricket added that “in an effort to improve pitches it is important that we have Andy with us. We are taking steps, as we promised, to improve what we currently have, so that the pitches respond favourably to all formats of the game.” The Essex-born pitch consultant, who has been with the ICC since 1998 has toured extensively to cricketing nations globally. He was last in the region during the World Cup in 2007 and the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010 and returned for a workshop in September 2011. The workshop has also attracted Kent Crafton. The other representatives are from St Vincent, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, University of Trinidad & Tobago, St Lucia, St Kitts, Barbados, Jamaica and Antigua.