WITH their founder Mahendra ‘Anil’ Hardyal expressing his desire to finish the year on a high, Regal XI and their Over-40 counterparts did just that last Sunday, when they won the Male Open and Over-40 categories of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association-organised tournament at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

In the Over-40 category, Regal defeated Floodlight XI by 46 runs, while in the Open category they defeated Herstelling by 32 runs to complete the double for their club.
On the distaff side, present Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company nationwide 10/10 champions Trophy Stall Angels suffered a two-wicket loss to one of their nemeses, Mike’s Wellwoman, bringing the curtain down on another successful, organised tournament by the GFSCA.
In the Over-40 final, Regal made 139 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs, with Troy Kippins topscoring with 35 while Mahendra Arjune and Jaga Bhoj supported with 24 and 22 each.
Rahaman Khan took 2 for 16 for Floodlight XI, who were restricted to 93 in their reduced 17 overs because of time, thanks to the bowling of Mahesh Chunilall who bagged 5 for 17 and Tony Amerally who offered support with 3 for 27.
In the Open category Regal batted first and made 144 for 8 in their allotted 15 overs, thanks to Richard Latiff’s 38, while Ricky Sargeant and Chien Gittens supported with 19 and 17 respectfully against the bowling of Tikaran Narine who claimed 2 for 24 and Shameer Hussain 2 for 39.
When Herstelling XI began their reply, they were bowled out for 112 in 14.2 overs, as only Omesh Narine who made 35 showed any resistance to the bowling of Premnauth Motilall (4 for 21) and Troy Kippings (3 for 9).
In the Female category, Trophy Stall Angels batted first and made 70 for 4 in their allotted 10 overs, with Erva Giddings 22 and Kavita Yadram 21 being their top scorers.
Zola Telford took 2 for 10 for Mike’s Wellwoman, who scraped home off the final delivery, ending on 71 for 8 from their 10 overs.
Akaze Thompson 18, Onika Wallerson 13 and Haseena Mohamed 11 were the principal scorers, even as Juliana Nero, who took 2 for 14, tried desperately to steer Trophy Stall Angels to the win.
The winners were each presented with trophies and $100 000 each and the runners-up $50 000 and trophies.
Younis Yusuf was named the Most Valuable Player in the Over-40 category, Latiff the same accolade for the Open category and Shyan Goodluck in the Female category, for which they each received $5 000, while Mahese Chunilall, Premnauth Motilall and Kavita Yadram got the same amount after being named the player-of-the-final in their respective matches.
The competition was sponsored by Mike’s Pharmacy, Survival Supermarket, Ramchand Auto Spares, Ariel Enterprise, Motor Trend, Petama Enterprise and Trophy Stall.