Jairam helps Wolf Warriors humiliate CT to cop $2M
… Mahadeo promises 100% increase for next year’s tourney
ANOTHER solid batting display from Amit Jairam helped West Demerara’s Wolf Warriors to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Celebrity Times of Berbice and the 2011 Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) nationwide 10/10 softball title at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, Sunday night. At approximately 22:10 h, Jairam, whose unbeaten 55 earned him the man–of-the-match award in his team’s semi-final victory over Regal XI earlier in the day, sealed the win for his side when he drove David Lukenauth through extra cover for his second four.
He made an unbeaten 38 that was decorated with four sixes and two fours, as Wolf Warriors reached 88-2 from seven overs in reply to Celebrity Times’ 87-8, of which Balram Samaroo top-scored with 39 (3×6, 1×4) and Farouk Hussain made 17.
Dhanraj Champalall and Davanand Persaud took two wickets each for 9 and 11 runs respectively for Wolf Warriors, before Jairam who received support from Mohammed Riaz Karim 20 steered them to victory and the G$2M first prize and trophy.
Jairam picked up his second man-of-the-match award for the day, while on the distaff side, West Indies all-rounder Shemaine Campbelle was declared the player-of-the-match at the presentation ceremony that followed, in which GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer Yog Mahadeo promised a 100% increase for next year’s tournament.
“First of all, I wish to say thanks to each and every subscriber of GT&T, as they are the ones who really contributed to the tournament and I wish to say to them all, that together we can make this tournament a success in the years ahead.
At the end of last year’s tournament where we had 584 teams competing, I challenged the organising committee to double the teams and we will double the prize monies up for grabs and they did so, as we had 1 224 teams (both male and female,) competing in this year’s tournament.
For that I say congratulations for a job well done to all of you and I challenge you to make the teams for next year’s tournament 1 500 and I will double the prize monies again. Also, GT&T will be giving double the amount of Top Up to members of the victorious male and female teams who stay committed to us,” said Mahadeo.
Both losing finalists in Celebrity Times and Lusignan Street Warriors (LSW) received $500 000 and $250 000 respectively with trophies, while Regal XI’s Azad Azeez and Buxton All Stars’ Ruth George were rewarded for their highest individual scores in the tournament.
Azeez scored an unbeaten 142 while George also made an unbeaten 140, with the best bowling figures of the tournament going to Krishnanand Ramgobin who took 5-2 in the male category and Campbelle 4-7 in the female category.
Apart from GT&T, this year’s tournament was sponsored by King’s Jewellery World, Buddy’s Night Club, Cellphone Shack, Auto Fashions, Coca Cola, Vitamalt and Tropical Mist through Banks DIH Limited and the National Communications Network (NCN) who did a live broadcast of the finals.