THE CAMP Road based Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground was transformed into a wonderful spectacle yesterday, when the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA)

brought the curtains down on the second edition of their Guyana Softball Cup, with two enterprising finals.
Those who turned out in their thousands to witness the day’s action, which included a female 10/10 competition, saw Kayume Savage Master’s XI defeat New York President’s XI by 57 runs to take the Masters Over-40 title.
Manja Malone, last year’s Most Valuable Player in the same category, walked away with such accolades again this year, having chalked up 227 runs from four matches, including a top score of 133 not out made against SCI Miami.
However,  in yesterday’s final, he made an unbeaten 82 off 64 deliveries with 10 fours, which together with Fazleel Mohammed’s 28 balls 35 (2×4, 1×6) and Nadir Baksh’s 28 (12 balls; 3×6), powered Kayume Savage Master’s XI to 186 for 4 from their 20 overs.
None of the New York President’s XI batsmen signaled their intentions of going after the runs, maybe because their team had filed a protest which they lost before their innings reached the half way mark, as they ended on 129 for 7 from their 20 overs.
Mike Balkarran struck four fours in his unbeaten 33 and got support from Basil Balkarran 17 (retired hurt), Roy Camacho 16 and Suresh Balkarran 14, as Kayume Savage Master’s XI avenged their loss in last year’s final to Regal Masters, by coming out trumps this time around.
While Malone will be the recipient of a 14k gold wrist band, compliments of Steve’s Jewellery, he will also receive a plaque for his ton and Kayume Savage Master’s XI US$3,000 and a trophy for their spoils, leaving New York President’s XI to be contended with the second place prize of US$1,000 and a trophy.
All teams that competed in the tournament, will also receive a commemorative tournament medallion, compliments of Trophy Stall, 4R Bearings and several other sponsors of the tournament, amongst whom are Digicel, Clear Waters, Survival, Rohan Auto Spares, Bel Air Texaco, Busta, Top Brandz and Nauth Motor Spares.
Following are the results from matches that were contested on the opening day:

At Bourda
Parika Defenders 121-9 in 20 overs (Orville Blacks 52, D. Chattar 2-19, Dyalall Latchman 2-25, Deonarine Debidyal 2-16) lost to Wellman 124-5 in 15.1 overs (Eon Abel 43, Ramesh Rambharose 2-17 by 5 wickets.

New York Legends 143-8 in 20 overs (Linden Langhorne 44, Dereck Edwards 31 n.o., Wayne Jones 2-12 Yusuf Younis 2-34) beat Flood light 130-8 in 20 overs (Lalta Gainda 37, Lloyd Rooplall 33, Dereck Edwards 2-14, Ronald Evelyn 2-14, Boodram Deopaul 2-20) by 13 runs.

Parika Defenders 75 all out in 18.1 overs (Extra 31, Rickey Edwards 4-7) lost to New York Legends 78-0 in 7.4 overs (Tony Fernandes 47 no) by 10 wickets.
Wellman 68 all out in 15.3 overs (Clyde Canterbury 4-7) lost to Flood Light 69-2 in 6 overs (Nandram Samlall 29) by 8 wickets.

At Queens College,
Success Masters 148-7 in 20 overs (K. Jaikarran 40, M. Arjune 3-23) lost to Regal Masters 151-5 in 17 overs (L. Klass 50, K. Ramnauth 2-24) by 5 wickets.

At Demerara Cricket Club (DCC),
Savage Masters 249-4 in 20 overs (Manja Malone 138, Sheik Mohamed 59, Rajin Rakesh 4-46) beat SCI Miami 132-8 in 20 overs (Munie Pooran  39, M. Malone 2-21) by 117 runs.
C I Masters 190-7 in 20 overs (E. Williams 48, R, Narine 3-25) lost to Flood Light Masters 191-5 in 17.4 overs (L. Makai 72 no) by 5 wickets.
Flood Light Masters 275 -4 in 20 overs (Rudy Rodrigues 133, G. Madray  3-55) beat SCI Miami 155-8 in 20 overs (M. Pooran 35, E. Lovell 2-13) by 120 runs.
C I Masters 192 -5 in 20 overs (Ashraf Ali 94) lost to Savage Masters 196-4 in 20 overs  ( Sheik Mohamed 60, Nigel Vieira 2-46) by 6 wickets.

In the open category: At Everest
Speed Boat xi 167 all out in 19.1 overs (N. Gooblall 57 no, Yaseer Mohamed 4-30) lost to Smith xi 186-9 in 20 overs (Latchman Rohit 59, Chabilall Etwaroo 52, N. Cooblall 4-22) by 19 runs.
Karibee Boys 143 all out in 18 overs (I. Hussain 43, Ramesh Baron 3-17) lost to New York Allstars 149-5 in 19.1 overs (Asif Ally 55, S. Rengasammy 2-37) by 5 wickets.
South Florida 134 all out in 17 overs lost to Memorex 139-4 in 15 overs (N. Edwards 50, A. Zaman 2-26) by 6 wickets.
Trophy Stall 219-9 in 20 overs (Wazim Haslim 82, K. Singh 2-25) beat South Florida 42 all out in 7 overs (D. Singh 5-26) by 177 runs.
Speed Boat XI 283-9 in 20 overs (G. Singh 111, A. Azeez 2-56) beat Wolf Warriors 228 all out in 20 overs (A. Azeez 56, I. Hamid 3-40) by 55 runs.
Trophy Stall 168-9 in 20 overs (W. Haslim 32, M. Ayume 3-27) beat Regal XI 162 all out in 19.4 overs (Ayume 38, D. Singh 3-26) by 6 runs.
New York All Star 228 all out in 20 overs (Eon Ellis 75, R. Singh 5-33) beat Cotton Field Wild Oaths 138 all out in 15.1 overs, by 90 runs.
Smith XI 186-8 in 20 overs (Latchman Rohit 59, N. Kooblall 4-22) beat Speed Boat XI 167 all out in 19 overs (Yaseer Mohamed 4-31) by 19 runs.
Memorex 170 -9 in 20 overs (W. Edwards 78, R. Sargeant 3-23) lost to Regal XI 171-7 in 18 overs (Chien Gittens 65, Richard Latiff 60, V. Da Silva 2-32) by 3 wickets.

At Queen’s College
Farm xi 193-8 in 20 overs (Amar Azeez 54, Deon Wallace 3-21) lost to Cotton Field Wild Oaths 194-4 in 17 overs (Ramesh Narine 40, Frederick Delph 2-28) by 6 wickets.

At YMCA
Crab Wood Creek 170-8 in 20 overs (D. Charritar 51, Dhanraj Persaud 4-26) lost to Wolf Warriors 171-6 in 15 overs (Mohamed Karim 57, Safraz Karim 51, J. Garnette 3-35) by 4 wickets.

Up to press time, the Male Open final was being contested between Trophy Stall and New York Softball League. Details of that match along with the female final that was also being played between Trophy Stall Angels and Karibee Rice Strikers, will be published in tomorrow’s edition of the Chronicle Sport.