Universal Solution Tigers dethrone Trophy Stall
… Final four and finals on today at National Stadium
A NEW champion will be crowned tonight in the 2011 Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T)-sponsored nationwide 10/10 competition, following defending champions Trophy Stall’s quarterfinal defeat at the hands of Berbice’s Universal Solution Tigers at the Everest Cricket Club ground, yesterday.
Also in winners’ row in the men’s category were Regal XI, Celebrity Times and Wolf Warriors while in the female category, Berbice All Stars, Lusignan Street Warriors (LSW), Trophy Stall Angels and Mike’s Wellwoman teams. Fittingly, Trophy Stall and Berbice Universal Solution Tigers took to the field to contest the last match of the day and they brought the crowd to life with every ball that was bowled, every run scored and every wicket taken as the Ancient County team, who had vociferous backing, created the upset.
Trophy Stall batted first and scored 93-5 from their 10 overs, with Surujpaul Deosarran and Mark Harold contributing 23 and 20 respectively, with Deosarran hitting one six and Harold two fours and one six.
Imran Hussein took 2-23 for Berbice Universal Solution Tigers who reached 94-3 from nine overs in reply, thanks to Javed Mohammed’s 39 (3×6), Klyandass Khemlall’s unbeaten 18 and Eon Hooper’s 14 (2×6), to spark off wild celebrations on and off the field.
Regal XI turned in a clinical performance to send Affiance Storm from Essequibo back to the Cinderella County, making 119-3 from their 10 overs and then reducing their opponents to 80-5 in reply.
Azad Azeez holds the record for the highest individual score in this year’s tournament and yesterday he led Regal XI to their eventual total with an unbeaten 59 (5×6, 4×4) while Chien Gittens offered support with 34 that was decorated with three sixes and one four.
When Affiance Storm batted, Navendra Persaud made an unbeaten 29 (3×6, 1×4) and Derrick Da Silva 16 as Tyrone Sanasie took 2-7 for Regal XI.
Sandust XI batted first and were limited to 57-9 from their 10 overs by Celebrity Times with Christopher Deonarine top-scoring with 15 while Waheid Edwards took 3-7 for Celebrity Times, before returning to score 26 (3×6, 1×4) to support Balram Samaroo who struck an unbeaten 33. Celebrity Times reached 63-1 from six overs in reply.
In the Wolf Warriors/Adventure Sports Club encounter, the former batted first and posted 116 for 5 from their 10 overs, thanks to Safraz Karim 28, Mohammed Riaz Karim 25 and Amit Jairam 21.
Gavindra Sharma took 4-14 for Adventure who were held to 73-5 in reply, with Sharma hitting three sixes in his top score of 32 and Selwyn Greene 20 while Divenand Persaud and Dhanraj Champlall took two wickets each for 8 and 9 runs respectively for Wolf Warriors.
On the distaff side, Berbice All Stars got things rolling with a commanding 10-wicket victory over Wakapoa.
Batting first, Wakapoa were held to 56 for 9 with Pauline Richards top-scoring with 16 against the bowling of Hema Campbelle who took 2-9 and West Indies all-rounder Shemaine Campbelle and Umra Brambit with 2-12 each.
Shemaine Campbelle returned with the bat to hit an unbeaten 40 off 10 deliveries, inclusive of three sixes and four fours and Herma Mohabir 13, as Berbice All Stars raced to 57 without loss from 4.4 overs, with Shemaine Campbelle hitting Alana Richards for back-to-back sixes over long on to seal the win.
LSW batted first against Aroaima Warriors and scored 105-5 with Melissa Cummings hitting 54 (4×6, 2×4) and Vanineta Chunoo 25 (3×6).
Angeline Grimmond took 3-7 for Aroaima Warriors, who lost their killer-instinct when they took the crease and were limited to 71-8 with Sue Depolitte making 22 against the bowling of Sabrina Singh and Davina Nicholls who took two wickets each for 14 and 19 runs respectively.
Trophy Stall Angels fared better than their male counterparts, when they defeated Falcon by nine wickets, thanks to West Indies female wicketkeeper June Ogle-Thomas who struck an unbeaten 38 (3×4) and Stephanie Rodney 28, the two adding 72 for the first wicket.
This was after Falcon were held to 72-3 from their 10 overs, after being 60 without loss in six overs, thanks to Alissa Azad 41 (4×4) and Amrisa Stephens 16, while June Nero snatched 2-18 ensuring no other batter reached double figures for Falcon.
In the final female matchup of the day, Mike’s Wellwoman whose line-up consists of numerous female national players emulated Regal XI to clinically dispose of Rising Stars XI by 99 runs.
Batting first, the eventual winners scored 146-4 with Katanna Mentore hitting three sixes and a similar number of fours in her 56 and she received support from Abena Parker who made 30 (3×4).
Shalima Azeez took 2-21 for Rising Stars who crawled to 47 before they were bowled out in the final over, with Adele Graham (11) reaching double figures as Mentore and Lotoya Smith took two wickets each for 2 and 4 runs respectively.
Today’s final-four action gets under way at 09:30 h and, with the female winner set to cart off G$1M and the male G$2M, softball fans will be in for a treat at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, whose gates will be open from 08:15 h.