… Regal X1, Rockaway Auto Sales ‘A’, Mike’s Wellwoman & Trophy Stall Angels
THE 3rd edition of the GT&T/Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport/Guyana Softball League 10/10 nationwide cricket competition is now down to the semi-finals, following the end of quarter-final matches at the Everest Cricket Club, Ground last Sunday. Sealing the final four slots on a day that was overcast for the most part were Regal X1 who defeated Karibee Boys by 11 runs, Rockaway Auto Sales ‘A’ X1 who won off the penultimate ball by 5 wickets against Speed Boat Sports Club; Mike’s Wellwoman who hammered Falcon Girls by 52 runs and Trophy Stall Angels who overpowered the game Rising Stars by 37 runs.
All pretenders have made their way out with many of the teams, possessing the potential to do well, choking when it mattered in tense situations.
Karibee Boys of Corentyne Berbice came into the match against Regal X1 with lots of confidence having reached this far without losing. But that confidence was to suffer a defining dent, compliments of Regal.
Regal took to the crease first and, in the face of some contained bowling, reached 93-3. Patrick Rooplall top-scored with 43 (2×6 3×4), Wasim Haslim made 18 (2×6) and Chien Gittens 15.
With such a modest total to overhaul, Karibee Boys would have fancied their chances of winning but that was not to be as the Regal bowlers displayed discipline, backed up by efficient fielding.
When their 10 overs ran out, Karibee Boys were left stranded on 82-5, 11 runs short of the winning target. Sherminda Hardyal was left unbeaten on 38 (3×6) and with him was Mahendranauth Sooklall on 4. The only other contribution of worth came from Imran Khan who made 17.
West Bank Demerara’s Speed Boat Sports Club were not allowed to speed away against Rockaway Auto Sales when the two collided. The West Bank boys were restricted to 85-4 off their 10 overs batting first. Safraz Esau contributed 30*, Mahendra Singh 23 (3×6) and Shazim Hussain 13.
With such a modest total, Rockaway Auto Sales did not cater for the closeness of the match as Speed Boat boys were tight in their bowling and in the outfield. It came down to Rockaway requiring 11 runs off the final over and after some nail-biting moments, Asif Alli hit the penultimate ball for a four, ending on 86-5 with one ball to spare, taking them into the semifinals
Jagdesh Deosarran gave the innings momentum with a well compiled 35, Saikichan Jhagdeo chipped in with 19.
Mike’s Wellwoman, led by Zola Telford’s even half-century which was decorated with 4 maximums and 3 boundaries, compiled a challenging 119-2, the highest team score of the day. Katoma Mentore was undefeated on 39.
Falcon Girls required 120 to win but were never in the hunt and were sent packing for 67. The only contribution of worth was Allisa Azad’s 14. Doing the damage with the ball were Hassena Mohamed with 3-9 and Reneka Isaacs who grabbed 3-13.
Also breezing through to the semis were Trophy Stall Angels, 37-run winners over the Cornelia Ida-based Rising Stars, a young but determined bunch of players who will develop into a solid unit in a few years.
Trophy Stall Angels, an experienced and well oiled unit batted first and posted 99-3 with captain June Ogle batting through the innings to end on 58 (1×6 2×4), Monica Seales made 19.
It was always going to be a tough ask for the young Rising Stars but they made the best of it and when their overs ran out they were 66-5.Yet again, they were led by the exciting 15-year-old Roshanna Harper who contributed 28 and Tenika Thorman who made 12.
Teams have a few days to further fine-tune their strategies and come out all guns blazing when the semifinals are held this Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club ground. Four pulsating match-ups are anticipated – two male and two female.
Gracing last Sunday’s action with his presence was West Indies and the world’s number-one Test Batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul who had the honour of spinning the coin before the feature game between Trophy Stall Angels and Rising Stars.