MMZ ‘A’ outplay Satro to retain title
DEFENDING champions Meten-Meer-Zorg (MMZ) ‘A’ easily retained their Barakat Brothers Twenty20 championship for the third successive year, when they outplayed Satro Sports Club to come away with an eight-wicket victory at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground on Sunday.

Being asked to take first strike on a fast track, Satro found the going tough against the bowling of former national Under-19 leg-spinner Rakesh Goberdhan (3-14) along with national selectee, fast bowler Trevon Benn (2-11) and Avinash Shardanandan (2-18) and were bowled out for 92 in 19.3 overs.

The sponsors Sam Barakat (back row left) and Feroze Barakat (back row right) take time out to pose with triple champions Meten-Meer-Zorg ‘A’ team, after they took home the Barakat Brothers trophy for the third successive year on Sunday. (Photo by Calvin Roberts)

Skipper Brian Roopchand led the batting for his team, hitting two fours in his leading score of 28, while former Essequibo Under-19 fast bowler Kevin Gordon offered support with 14, but it was not enough to prevent the defending champions’ bowlers from taking wickets at regular interval.

MMZ ‘A’ saw their reply off to a solid start, with their pugnacious opener Mahendra Nandkishore, who made 34, dispatching both Gordon and Roopchand over the boundary for maximums, followed by a straight-driven four off Roopchand.

He lost his partner Balbinder Shivpersaud (0) who went via lbw to Roopchand at 15, but he was joined by Shawn McKay who was unbeaten on 38 (5×4), and they took the score to 68 before he was caught at slip off Tyrone Narine.

Deonauth Baksh, who was unbeaten on 9, saw their team to the title once again and subsequently the $200 000 first prize and the trophy that goes along with it.

At the presentation ceremony that followed, several individual prizes were issued to the respective winners, with Satro’s Hemraj Persaud receiving the best bowling performance award, La Grange’s Samuel Fredericks (highest individual score), Troy Khan (most runs), Artree Singh of MMZ ‘B’ (best bowler), MMZ ‘B’ (highest team total) and All Youths Sports Club (most disciplined team).

Both Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) president Alfred Mentore and Regional Chairman of Region Three Julius Faerber congratulated the sponsors for their sterling contribution to the game on the West Demerara and at the same time offered their congratulations to the victors.