From Frederick Halley in New York

GYRATING to the strains of D.J Bravo’s Champion and celebrating in true Guyanese style, Regal All Stars and Masters softball players transformed the picturesque Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York into a festival atmosphere after both teams emerged as undisputed champions when the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) 12th annual Independence and Legends Cups climaxed before a bumper Sunday afternoon crowd here.The winnings included an eagle each along with US$4000 for copping the Independence Cup and US$3000 for the Legends Cup.

Regal All Stars defeated NYSCL All Stars by two wickets while their counterparts Regal Masters turned back the challenge of defending champions and archrivals Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) by six wickets, to achieve an unprecedented double, the first by overseas teams in international tournaments.
It also marked a repeat of a similar performance in last year’s Guyana Softball Cup when both teams came out top.
Seemingly “dead and buried” at 84 for seven in the 14th over and staring defeat in quest of a challenging198 for victory, Regal All Stars staged a dramatic recovery to reach the target in 23.4 overs in the 25-over affair final.
The recovery was engineered by a magnificent match-winning eighth-wicket partnership of 111 between opener Richard Latiff (74) and Safraz Eseu (44 not out).
Two run-outs at the start of the chase, coupled with some fine bowling by Bobby Prahalad, saw Regal All Stars slip precariously to 84 for seven and the New York supporters already in a celebratory mood, anticipating a crushing win. However, Latiff who stood like a beacon while wickets tumbled at the other end, found a useful and reliable ally in Eseu as the game turned dramatically.
The feature of the partnership was the brilliant running between the wickets.
By that time Prahalad returned to end Latiff’s match-winning knock, Regal All Stars needed a mere three runs from 11 balls and duly achieved same with eight remaining. Latiff’s innings included five fours and a solitary six while Eseu struck three sixes and a four. Prahalad finished three for 24 from 4.4 overs.

Earlier, NYSCL All Stars were indebted to an even half-century from former Guyana Under-19 batsman Kaleem Bux who struck five fours before he was run-out in the closing stages of the innings.
Another former Under-19 player, skipper Andrew Gonsalves (25) and Prashad Mahadeo (22) were also among the runs while Delroy Perreira claimed two for 30.
While the Regal All Stars had to pull out all the stops to win the Independence Cup, the Masters registered a more comfortable win against GFSCA who were seeking to make it two in a row.
Preferring to chase, like their younger stars, Regal Masters were set 150 for victory after restricting GFSCA to what seemed an inadequate 149 for three in their allotted 20 overs.
Victory was achieved in 18.2 overs with opener Anil Hardyal anchoring the innings with a solid 52 which contained nine fours while Eric Thomas smashed four sixes and two fours in a quick-fire undefeated 43.
GFSCA‘s innings started disastrously after they lost Unis Usuff to the first delivery of the match bowled by Parsram ‘Bimbley’ Persaud. They, however, recovered somewhat through a second-wicket stand of 59 between opener Ramo Malone and Jagdesh Persaud (23) while Malone, who batted the entire innings for his undefeated 62, shared an unbeaten 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Wayne Jones, who sparkled with 39 not out with two sixes and two fours.
At the lavish presentation ceremony, which followed, Latiff was voted Most Valuable Player in the Independence Cup (US$500) and also got the nod for man-of-the-match in the final as well as the batsman with the highest aggregate (175).
Bux received his accolade for the fastest 50 in the final; Dharanpaul Singh of New York Enforcers for best bowling figures (six for 28) in the tournament; Azumadeen Mohamed of Queens All Stars for highest individual score (93). Cash incentives were also handed over to Eseu for his brilliant knock.

In the Legends Cup, Hardyal was voted man-of-the-match and for scoring the fastest fifty while the MVP award (US$300) went to GFSCA’s Jagdesh Persaud for scoring 224 runs and taking four wickets.
He also received another award for scoring a century. Gordial Mattai, who represented the GFSCA’s Legends got a prize for his 122 while Saheed Adam of Orlando was another centurion. Regal Masters captain Troy Kippins collected trophies for the most wickets (11) and best figures of six for 11.
NYSCL president Eric Ferrier was loud in his praise for the many sponsors who had come on board for the tournament which also served as part of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Independence celebrations. He also congratulated all the teams who participated and reserved special accolades for the winners.
Regal All Stars and Masters also expressed sincere thanks to Guyana’s Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramrattan, Director of Sport Christopher Jones and the United States Embassy in Guyana for their various roles in making the tour a reality.