… Floodlights knocked out

By Rajiv Bisnauth in Florida
GUYANA’s top softball teams, Regal All-Stars and Masters have advanced to the final of the All-Stars and Masters’ finals after both teams won their respective semi-final games yesterday in the three-day Florida Cup Softball tournament played at the Brian Piccolo Park, Cooper City, Florida.

Both teams played excellent cricket, with the All-Stars beating the South Florida Softball Cricket League by 252 runs, while Regal Masters edged the defending Champions by 20 runs.
In the Maters category, Mahesh Chunilall stroked an unbeaten 94, which was the backbone of the innings after Regal Masters were 9-2 at one stage.

The two City teams had an intense battle, but it was Regal who had the final say. Floodlights,after winning the toss and deciding to bowl first,made early inroads, removing Mahendra Hardyal (0), via the run out route and Eion Able;both going in the second over.
But, Chunilall and Mohendra Arjune joined forces and built a superb partnership of 51 off 43 balls. Both batsmen handled the early pressure with ease, rotating the strike on a regular basis and in the process dispatching the bad balls when they came along.

However, Arjune was dismissed for a 13-ball 30, inclusive of four fours and a six;being dismissed at the half-way stage of the innings, with Regal Masters on 72-3.
After the interval, Chunilall and Eric Thomas added 64 for the fourth-wicket before Thomas (8) and Rudolph Baker (9) were both dismissed in quick succession.
The right-handed Chunilall continued his measured innings to remain unbeaten on 95,which came off 53 balls and included six fours and seven sixes.

Regal Masters ended on 184-5.
In reply Floodlights ended on 164-8.
Meanwhile, Regal All-Stars made 331-4 declared, with Richard Latif hitting an unbeaten 100. South Florida Softball Cricket League were bowled out for 79.
In today’s final at the Central Broward Regional Park and Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida, Regal Maters will play Amazon, while Regal All-Stars come up against Hurricanes.