Regal crowned champions in Masters and Open categories
… Angels and Wellwoman joint female winners
PRE-TOURNAMENT favourites Regal XI lived up to that billing, when they carted off the top prize in the Open category of the inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc./National Sports Commission Independence Cup, which culminated at the Everest Cricket Club ground last Sunday night..
They defeated Memorex of Berbice by seven wickets in a pulsating final, after witnessing their Over-40 teammates claim that category’s top prize, with their four-wicket victory over Frontline Rangers, while Trophy Stall Angels and Mike’s Wellwoman were crowned joint winners in the female category.
In the Open category, Regal XI, who less than two weeks ago had claimed the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association/Trophy Stall T20 title, asked Memorex to take first strike, before reducing them to 154 for 8 off their 20 overs.
David Lukenauth 37 (3×4, 2×6), Waheid Edwards 32 and Enaam Singh 18 (2×6) were the principle scorers for Memorex, as Chien Gittens took 3 for 24 and got support from Lakeram Roopnarine, Troy Kippins and Safraz Esau, who picked up a wicket each.
In their reply, Regal XI reached 155 for 3 from 17.2 overs in fading light, thanks to an unbeaten 62 (5×4, 3×6) from Gittens which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award, backed by 23 from Richard Latiff and 18 from Kwesi Joseph while Roy Jafferally took 2 for 30 for Memorex.
In the Masters category, Regal Masters won the toss and invited Frontline Rangers to bat first, reducing them to 153 for 5 in their 20 overs, led by Mohammed Rafiek 63 (3×4, 3×6), 24 from Manoj Malone and 21 (2×6, 1×4) from Kishon Mohabir.
Rafiek and Malone had earlier added 60 for the second wicket, after Sheik Mohammed was caught off the bowling of Clyde Butts (1 for 18), while Rafiek and Shaun Massiah (11) added 40 for the third wicket, following the demise of Malone before they were both dismissed.
Satrohan Seeraj took 3 for 24 for Regal Masters, who said thanks to Younis Yusuf’s 39 that was decorated with five fours, 29 (2×6, 1×4) from Eric Thomas, 28 (4×4) from skipper Mahendra Arjune and 18 from Lance Adams, as they reached 154 for 6 off 18 overs, despite Rafiek’s 3 for 36.
At the presentation ceremony that followed, Speedboat’s Greg Singh was named Man-of-the-Series in the Open category, following his 205 against Karibee Boys on the penultimate day of the tournament. He received a three-piece living room suite, while Regal took home $500 000, a trophy and 15 medallions and Memorex $200 000, a trophy and 15 medallions as well.
In the Masters category, Regal Masters carted off $400 000, a trophy and 15 medallions, Frontline Rangers $100 000, a trophy and 15 replicas, while Rafiek was named Man-of-the-Match in the final and Floodlights’ Greg DeFrance the Man-of-the-Series.
In the female category, Trophy Stall Angels and Mike’s Wellwoman agreed to share the spoils evenly, after their game was cancelled due to insufficient playing time, following their semifinal victories over Regal Champs and Karibee Strikers.
(By Calvin Roberts)
