THANKS to Shimron Hetmyer’s whirlwind 74, Memorex XI defeated national 10/10 champions Regal XI by two wickets at the Everest Cricket Club ground yesterday evening, to take the inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) organized 12/12 championships and $600,000 first placed prize.

Having defeated both Trophy Stall and Speedboat XI in their respective semifinal encounter, both Memorex and Regal XI took the field to compete in the final, under hazy conditions and to a near packed venue.
The Berbice based Memorex lineup won the toss and asked their Georgetown counterparts to take first strike, to which they rattled up 132 for 2 from their 12 overs, thanks to Richard Latiff’s unbeaten 63 which was decorated with three fours and the same number of sixes.
This was after the batsman was given a life by Memorex, during his 49 runs first wicket partnership with Patrick Rooplall whose 38 included three fours and two sixes, while Safraz Esau chipped in with an unbeaten 22 that included two sixes and one four.
Roy Jaffarally was the best bowler for Memorex, taking 1 for 33, before Hetmyer, who along with Rooplall and Speedboat XI’s Greg Singh were in line for the Man of the Series award before yesterday’s action, tore into the Regal XI bowling attack.
Like Latiff, Hetmyer received a life when a well judged catch on the long on boundary was declared null and void due to the square leg umpire indicating the delivery was an above the waist full toss and he showed his gratitude by dispatching the opposition bowling with disdain.
Hetmyer, who was later declared Man of the Match in the finals, Man of the Series and Best Batsman, struck six sixes and three fours in his 74 before he was dismissed in the final over with his team needing 8 to win, which they achieved off the final delivery, receiving support from Waheid Edwards who made 16.
Balram Roopnarine (3 for 27) and Esau’s 2 for 48 tried desperately to hand Regal XI the victory, but it was not to be as Hetmyer’s innings guided Memorex to 136 for 8 off the final delivery of the tournament which was deemed a success by GSCL president Seewchan.
In the first semifinal, Memorex batted first when they faced up against Trophy Stall and made 136 for 4, with Farouk Hussain 57 (5×6, 3×4) and Joshua Garnett whose unbeaten 25 was decorated with three sixes, and Edwards 17 (1×6, 1×4) leading their batting.
Narine Bailey took 2 for 17 for Trophy Stall, who fell short by 10 runs, as they ended on 126 for 7 from their 12 overs, with Vishnu Tamenchandra hitting one six in his 32, Devendra Deosarran two sixes in his unbeaten 22 and Surujpaul Deosarran one six in his 16, as Jaffarally claimed 3 for 27 to steer Memorex into the finals.
In the other semifinals, Speedboat XI batted first and were limited to 98 for 7 with four of their batsmen perishing via the run out route by Regal XI, with David George 32 (3×4, 1×6), Anand Bharat 27 (3×4) and Greg Singh, who was one of the four batsmen, 11 (1×6,1×4).
Tyrone Sanasie, who was later declared the best bowler in the competition which got underway on  April 20, but was pushed back due to rain, took 1 for 15 for Regal XI who reached 99 for 2 from 8.5 overs in reply, thanks to Rooplall’s 35 (3×4,3×6), Chien Gittens 20 (1×6,1×4) and Latiff’s 18 (2×4, 1×6).
For their championship win, Memorex received $600,000 and a trophy, while Hetmyer took home a three piece suite, Hamilton Beach juice extractor and a Black and Decker oven for his Man of the Series award, along with $10,000 each for his Man of the Match and Best Batsman spoils.