FOLLOWING their respective semifinal victories over defending champions Memorex and Trophy Stall, Regal XI and Wolf Warriors were set to meet in the finals of the second Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL) 12/12 championship at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

However, a persistent shower which swept over the venue with a gusty wind just before the toss, prevented any play and as per an early arrangement between the four semifinalists, the first placed prize money of $600,000 was divided equally amongst the two finalists, after rain prevented any play.
Earlier in the day, the semifinals were played in similar fashion to the preliminary round matches, with Regal facing Memorex on pitch number one while on pitch number two, Wolf Warriors and Trophy Stall were meeting in the second semifinals.
Asked to bat first by Memorex who claimed the inaugural GSCL Inc. 12/12 Championship back in May, Regal compiled an enterprising 134 for 7 from their 12 overs, following a sedate start in which they lost Chien Gittens (00) to a wonderful catch from Roy Jaffarally, in the first over.
Patrick Rooplall struck an unbeaten 53 which was decorated with six sixes, with the sixth one coming off the final delivery of his team’s innings, along with two fours while Richard Latiff offered support with 27 (3×4, 1×6), before he was brilliantly caught by a diving Jason Sinclair at extra cover off John Percy (3 for 37).
Victor DaSilva and Keon Sinclair supported Percy in the bowling department for Memorex, with similar figures of 1 for 15, before they were limited to 92 for 8 by the reigning Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company nationwide 10/10 champions, the same team they defeated to take the inaugural title in May.
Alvin Ramdass struck four fours and two sixes in his top score of 36 while Jaffarally had two sixes in his 26 but the rest of the batting failed to get going, as Balram Roopnarine 3 for 15 and Ricky Sargeant’s 2 for 17 ensured Regal came away with the revenge win.
On pitch number one, Trophy Stall, who claimed the inaugural GT&T 10/10 title in 2010, was asked to bat first by Wolf Warriors, the 2011 winner of the said title and the team who was dethroned by Regal last year.
Following a brisk start of 40 from four overs between Shailendra Ramnauth who top scored with 25 (3×6) and the hard hitting Surujpaul Deosarran 22 (2×6), Trophy Stall fell away and were struggling on 79 for 8 four overs later, before being bowled out for 95.
Vishnu Tamenchandra (4 for 13), Narine Bailey ( 3 for 18) and Davenand Persaud who took 2 for 12 were the bowlers who engineered Trophy Stall’s batting collapse for Wolf Warriors, who in reply reached 94 for 5, thanks to Amit Rai’s 39 (3×6, 3×4), Mohammed Karim 25 (2×6) and Safraz Karim’s 15 (1×6).
However, the heavens opened up and placed a damper on the day’s proceedings as both teams were getting ready to have a go at each other in a highly anticipated final, which would have also been a repeat of last year’s GT&T finals and also the inaugural tournament semifinal matchup.
Meanwhile, teams are asked to gear up for the Regal Stationery and Computer Supplies/Digimax nationwide Super 12/12 tournament which is expected to bowl off in January 2014.