Regal teams chalk up double victories
… Persaud scores ton for East Coast Masters

REIGNING Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company nationwide 10/10 champions Regal XI and Regal Masters chalked up back-to-back victories on yesterday’s opening day of action in this year’s Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) ‘Guyana Softball Cup IV which got under way at several venues in the City.Playing at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground in sweltering heat yesterday morning, Regal XI disposed of a game New York All Star lineup, before journeying over to Police Sports Club ground where they recorded a nail-biting two-wicket victory over South Florida.
At the Muslim Youth Organisation ground where they played both of their matches, Regal Masters easily defeated East Coast Masters and Brooklyn Queen’s Legends, despite Jagdesh Persaud hitting an even century for the former.
At MYO, Regal Masters won the toss and asked East Coast Masters to take first strike, following which they scored 164 for 4 off their 20 overs, with Jagdesh Persaud topscoring with his even 100 (10×6, 6×4) and received support from Fallim Mohammed who made 25 (2×4).
Raymond Harper took 2 for 21 for Regal Masters who scored 165 for 3 off 16.1 overs in reply with Eon Abel hitting an unbeaten 55 (4×6, 2×4), 35 not out from Jagdesh Bhoj with two sixes and a similar number of fours as they added 95 for the fourth wicket, while Harper contributed 20 and Persaud took 2 for 16.
In their second match of the day at the same venue, Regal Masters again won the toss and asked Brooklyn Queen’s Legends to bat first but were limited to 115 for 8, with G. Sukhai 20 and R. Seenarine 18 leading their batting.
Clyde Butts took 2 for 7 for Regal Masters, who in reply scored 121 for 3 off 12.3 overs, led by an unbeaten 60 (6×4, 4×6) from Rudolph Barker and 25 (2×4, 1×6) from Abel, as the Brooklyn Queen’s Legends team suffered their second defeat of the day.
At MSC, New York All Stars batted first and were bowled out for 119, despite Wasim Haslim hitting five fours in his 27, while Anil Moonsammy 19 (2×6) and Nigel Greaves 16 offered support even as Fazal Rafiek took 4 for 14 and Suresh Budhu 2 for 38 for Regal XI.
In their turn at the wicket, Regal XI reached 120 for 3 off 17.2 overs, led by an unbeaten 38 from Chien Gittens and 32 not out from Sachin Singh, with both batsmen hitting four fours each, even as Bhola Prashad took 2 for 21 in a desperate effort for New York All Stars.
In their second game of the day which was contested at PSC on pitch number 3, Regal XI bowled out South Florida for 94 in 18.4 overs with only Anand Rooplall 16 (2×6) and Ramnarine Chattergoon 11 reaching double figures while extras contributed 37 to the visitors’ total.
Budhu took 3 for 8, Richard Latiff took 3 for 27 and Delroy Pereira 2 for 8 for Regal XI, who in their turn at the wicket struggled to 99 for 8 off 18.2 overs, with Latiff topscoring with 31 (2×4) while Rafiek and Safraz Esau both made 11, against the bowling of Dayanand Singh (2 for 19).
In their first match of the day that was played at the same venue, South Florida coasted past Parika Defenders with ease, bowling out their opponents for 93 in 18.1 overs and replying with 97 for 3 off 12.2 overs, thanks to Harrinarine Chattergoon’s 38 (4×4, 1×6) and 24 not out from Shailendra Ramnauth.
On pitch number one, Farm XI batted first against Petama Enterprise who bowled them out for 117 in 16.5 overs despite Lennox Marks’ 42 (4×6, 2×4) and 14 from Patrick Khan, who added 60 for the third wicket from six overs.
Nandshyaam Boodhoo took 4 for 13, Ian Ivan 2 for 20 and Narine Raghunandan 2 for 27 for Petama Enterprise, who, in reply, scored 118 for 8 off 18.5 overs, thanks to Mohammed Khan Zamal (29) and an unbeaten 24 from Safraz Ally, while Vivian DaSilva (3 for 14), Avenash Sukdeo (3 for 30) and Shafeek Ishmael 92 for 20) kept things tight for Farm XI.
On pitch number two, Karibee Boyz batted first against Cotton Field Wild Oats and scored an imposing 174 for 8 with J. Mohammed 60 (5×4, 3×6), Lalbachan Veerasammy 34 (4×6) and D. Harrilall 20 leading the batting.
R. Parsram and Ganesh Mangal took 2 wickets each for Cotton Field Wild Oats, who were restricted to 161 for 9 off their 20 overs, with Shanz Grovesnor 43 (3×4, 2×6) and Mangal 20 (2×6, 1×4) leading their batting even as Veerasammy took 4 for 19 and Latchman Balgobin 3 for 44 to hand Karibee Boyz the win by 13 runs.

(By Calvin Roberts)