T&T/MCYS/GSL nationwide 10/10
TROPHY Stall XI stopped Crabwood Creek (CWC) Unstoppable by 51 runs, to become the inaugural Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T)-sponsored Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS)/Guyana Softball League (GSL) nationwide 10/10 softball competition champions and G$1M richer, after the final at the Everest Cricket Club ground on Sunday night. Scores in the match; Trophy Stall XI 115-6 CWC Unstoppable 64-7. After being met by President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Chairman of GT&T Major General (retired) Joseph Singh and Chief Financial Officer of GT&T Yog Mahadeo, winning skipper Ravi Ramnauth called correctly at the coin toss and opted to bat.
The first ball was bowled by President Bharrat Jagdeo, following which Trophy Stall XI lost their in-form batsman and the tournament’s MVP, Jagdesh Deosarran, without scoring from the fourth ball of the first over.
And even though they lost Dindiall Lakhan (6) to be 11-2 in the second over, some lusty hitting by Randy Ketwaroo 36 (3×6, 1×4), man-of-the-match Fazal Rafeek who struck three successive sixes and one four in his 34 and Anand Dindiall 16 (1×4), guided them to 115-6 from their 10 overs.
Vibert Khan (1-16), Lalta Persaud (1-20) and Joshua Garnett (1-23) were the leading bowlers for CWC Unstoppable, who were limited to 64-7 from their 10 overs in reply, with Garnett returning to top score with 28 (2×6) before he was bowled off the final delivery of the tournament by Diyanand Ramnauth (1-0).
Huraj Premraj (2-12), Rafeek (1-8) and Gary Singh with 1-16, coupled with two brilliant run-outs from throws coming from the deep, enabled Trophy Stall XI, who had defeated tournament favourites Regal XI in a preliminary round encounter, to cart off the top prize and trophy, leaving CWC Unstoppable to be content with the second place prize of $250 000 and a trophy.
Earlier in the semifinals, both Trophy Stall XI and Crabwood Creek defeated Memorex and Cotton Field respectively, with the former recording a nail-biting five-run victory over Memorex who had earlier upset nationwide champions Wolf Warriors in their quarterfinal encounter the previous day.
Playing in the first match of the day, CWC asked Cotton Field to take first strike and limited them to 77-5 from their 10 overs, with Navendra Doodnauth 24 (1×4), Suraj Rajna 15 (2×4), Christopher Persaud 14 (1×4, 1×6) and Daniel Bolo 11 (1×6) being the principal scorers.
Persaud took 2-13 for CWC who reached 81-2 from 8.5 overs in reply, thanks to the batting of Garnett who struck two sixes in his unbeaten 26, Chalitar 17 (3×4) and Manahar Ramrattie 15.
In the Trophy Stall XI/Memorex semifinal encounter, the thousands of fans including secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Anand Sanassie, were treated to a highly competitive game with the former managing to come out on top.
Batting first, Trophy Stall XI scored 76-4 from their 10 overs, with Rafeek contributing 33 (2×4, 2×6) and Etwaroo 17 (2×4), while Vivian Da Silva took 1-11 from his two overs for Memorex, who were held to 71-6 from their 10 overs in reply.
Veerasammy Lallbachan tried desperately to take his team into the final with an unbeaten 43 which was decorated with two sixes and a similar number of fours, while David Looknauth offered him support with 11, but no other batsman reached double figures, as Trophy Stall XI joined CWC in the final.
In the female exhibition match-up, GT&T Lightening Speed XI which included four national female cricketers suffered their first loss of the year, as they went under to a Number 68 XI which included two West Indies female players in Shemaine Campbell and Erva Giddings.
Batting first, GT&T Lightening Speed were slowed down by their opponents, who allowed them a meagre 60 for the loss of three wickets from their 10 overs, with skipper Carlotta Lee-John and Stephanie Robertson both contributing 18 each.
Onita Tello (2-5) and Giddings (1-13) were the wicket-takers for Number 68, thanks to the batting of Campbell who struck one six over wide long on and three fours in her unbeaten 28 and Giddings who touched the boundary ropes twice in her unbeaten 23. They reached 61-1 from 6.2 overs.
Tassa drumming, dance exhibition by the National Dance School and chutney and soca renditions from various artistes, including Dave Martin from the world renowned Tradewinds band, entertained the crowd gathered at one of Guyana’s first class venues, before the final.
At the simple presentation ceremony that followed, Regal XI’s Richard Latif who struck an unbeaten 176 against Shattas XI and Clear Waters’ Danram Persaud who took an unbelievable 7-2, received prizes after being adjudged the best batsman and bowler respectively.
Deosarran received the MVP award for his six catches and 244 runs scored in the tournament which attracted 584 teams, with the first game bowling off on February 6.