Singh hits double-century for Speedboat

… Three finalists known

By Calvin Roberts

SPEEDBOAT XI’s Greg Singh blasted a double-century for his team, who thrashed Karibee Boys by 185 runs in their final preliminary round matchup of this year’s Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc./National Sports Commission inaugural Independence Cup matchup at the Carifesta Sports Complex ground yesterday.
Competing in the Male Open category, Singh struck 28 sixes and seven fours in his 205 which, along with Wazir Husain’s 34 (5×6) and 25 from Ganesh Narine that included three sixes and one four, piloted Speedboat XI to 363 all out off their 20 overs.
I. Hussain, S. Rangasammy, L. Veerasammy and K. Khamlall took two wickets each for 48, 57, 62 and 75 runs respectively for Karibee Boys, who in reply were bowled out for 178 off 15.1 overs, with J. Mohammed hitting 10 sixes and two fours in 80.
M. Sooklall offered support with 23 (2×6, 1×4), as S. Hussain took 4 for 13 and P. Alleyne and A. Seepersaud 2 for 43 each for Speedboat XI.
At the Everest Cricket Club ground, Regal XI edged Farm XI by 15 runs in an exciting and enthralling encounter, which saw Lennox Marks and Sheldon Perch add 135 for the seventh wicket for a struggling Farm XI, to offer them a glimmer of hope.
Earlier in the contest, Narvin Singh 52 (5×4, 3×6), Richard Latiff 40 (6×6), Safraz Esau 39 (6×6) and Kwesi Joseph 31 not out (3×6, 1×4), steered Regal XI to what they thought was an unassailable 242 for 6 from their 20 overs.
Imran Hussain took 2 for 22 for Farm XI, who in reply were shakily placed on 85 for 6, of which Anand Rooplall 33 (4×6, 2×4) was one of the batsmen back in the pavilion, before Marks and Perch came together and revived their innings.
They hit sixes at will against the Regal XI bowlers who seemed lost to find a solution until Marks, who struck 12 sixes in his 76, was caught on the deep midwicket boundary, with 23 more to win from three overs.
It came down to Farm XI needing 16 from the final over, after Perch 52 (6×6, 1×4) was sent back in the penultimate over, and they failed to get it, losing their final wicket off the second delivery to be bowled out for 227 off 19.2 overs, thanks to Mohammed Ayume’s 3 for 43.
At the St Stanislaus ground, Floodlights XI trounced Enterprise Legends by 218 runs in an Over-40 contest, even as Memorex inflicted an 80-run defeat on Wolf Warriors in their Open category contest at the same venue. At the Everest Cricket Club ground, Frontline Rangers got past Parika Defenders by 65 runs in an Over-40 contest.
Batting first, Floodlights XI, on the back of Mohammed Samlall’s unbeaten 87 (9×4, 4×6), an undefeated 77 from J. Sumair that included seven sixes and six fours and 75 (10×6, 3×4) from G. DeFranca, posted 293 for 3 off their 20 overs, before they restricted their opponents to 46 for 9 off 9 overs.
M. Seebarran struck two fours and a six in the topscore of 17, as R. Raghubir and Wayne Jones took three wickets each for 18 and 20 runs respectively, as Floodlights advanced to the semifinals where they opposed Regal Masters.
Frontline Rangers batted first and posted 178 for 3 off their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Manoj Malone’s unbeaten 74 (6×4, 2×6), 41 from Mohammed Rafeek and 26 from Sheik Mohammed before they bowled out Parika Defenders for 113 in 18.4 overs.
V. Karran 34 and R. Ramsamugh 23 were the principal scorers for Parika Defenders, whose batsmen failed to negotiate the bowling of Ryan Singh 4 for 18 and Toney Singh who supported with 2 for 18.
At the St Stanislaus ground, Memorex batted first and posted 167 being bowled out in 16.3 overs by Wolf Warriors, thanks to Waheid Edwards’ 52 (4×6, 4×4) and Vishaul Phillips 26 (3×6, 1×4).
Mohammed Karim and Azad Zaman took three wickets for 36 and 37 runs, backed by Narine Bailey’s 2 for 19 for Wolf Warriors, who in reply were bowled out for 88 in 15.2 overs, with only Safraz Karim 28 (3×6) and his brother Mohammed 16 reaching double figures, while Chetram Budhu, Chandrasekhar Arjune and Enaam Singh took two wickets each for the victors.

SEMIS
In the semifinals of the Male Open category, Regal XI and Memorex defeated Speedboat and Trophy Stall respectively, to book a place in today’s final where they will do battle for the $500 000 first place prize and trophy, while in the Masters category, Regal Masters will oppose frontline Rangers for the $400 000 cash prize.
In the first semifinal which was contested at the St Stanislaus ground between Trophy Stall and Memorex of Berbice, the former won the toss and invited the latter to take first strike.
They responded by posting 221 for 7 from their 20 overs, led by Balram Samaroo 53 (4×6, 3×4), an unbeaten 50 (7×6, 1×4) from Roy Jafferally and 42 (4×6, 2×4) from Vishal Phillips, as Fazal Rafiek took 3 for 47 and K. Bissoondial 2 for 39 for Trophy Stall, who in reply were limited to 218 for 9 from their 20 overs.
Rafiek returned with the bat to topscore with 38 (3×6, 2×4), R Ramnauth an unbeaten 32 (3×6, 2×4) and Bissoondial 21, but it was not enough as Memorex, who were led by Phillips’ 3 for 30 and J. Percival 2 for 20 completed the win by three runs.
In the second semifinal, Regal XI asked Speedboat to bat first and bowled them out for 174 from 19.4 overs, despite Anand Bharat 66 (6×6, 3×4) and Ganesh Narine 24.
Lakeram Roopnarine took 3 for 25, Esau 2 for 24 and Pritvi Motilall 2 for 42 for Regal XI, who in reply reached 175 for 4 from 14.5 overs, thanks to Narvin Singh 74 (6×4, 5×6), 27 (3×6) from Patrick Rooplall and 48 (3×4, 3×6) from Chien Gittens.
In the Masters Category, Regal Masters asked Floodlights to bat first and bowled them out for 183, even as DeFranca topscored with 92 (9×6, 6×4) and 21 from Jones, with Clyde Butts leading Regal Masters’ bowling with 3 for 22, while Troy Kippins and Mahendra Arjune picked up two wickets each.
In reply, Regal Masters reached 184 for 5 from 19.1 overs, led Eric Thomas 41 (5×6, 2×4), 39 from Younis Yusuf, 35 from Arjune and an unbeaten 22 from Lance Adams, while in the other semifinal which was being played simultaneously, Frontline Rangers posted 156, thanks to Malone 42 (5×4) and 38 from Sheik Mohammed.
J. Persaud and F. Mohammed took 3 wickets each for 22 and 29 runs respectively for Industry Super Kings, who were bowled out for 143 in reply, even though I. Mohammed topscored with 51 (4×6, 4×4), 36 from Kennard Luke and 34 from J. Persaud, as D. Mohabir and Ryan Singh took three wickets each for 20 and 31 runs respectively for Frontline Rangers.