By Elroy Stephney

TENEZE Ferme ground in the Lower Pomeroon River was filled with excitement last Sunday, as Eagle Sports and Rising Sun SC battled their way to victories in the annual Norbert Alphonso and Hassan Rahim Memorial 20/20 competition when the two semi-finals were played.
Under clear sky and a vociferous crowd, hosts Teneze Ferme ‘A’, despite their home advantage, could not deny Rising Sun a deserving 6-wicket triumph. Batting first, Teneze Ferme ‘A’ amassed 137-6 in 20 overs with fluent knocks of 46 (4×4, 2×6) from Wayne Narine and 20 from Aubrey Rodrigues. Medium pacer Sanjeev Ramdeen had 2-22 from 4 overs, bowling for Rising Sun.
In reply, an impressive half-century from Ronald Kanhai 56 (3×6, 3×4) and opener Fenton Jacobus’ patient 36 (2×4) piloted Rising Sun to a six-wicket victory. Nicholas Rodrigues had 2-34 from 4 overs in a losing effort.
In the second semi-final, Eagle Sports struggled to 120 all out in 19 overs on a wearing pitch that offered turn and bounce. Javon Kellawan 37 (4×4) and Korie Jabar 20 (2×4) were the principal scorers.
Leg-spinner Nowel Evans 3-24 from 4 overs and Jason Griffith 3-28 from 3 overs were the destroyers for Wakapoa Quenqerers.
In their turn at the crease, they found themselves in early trouble and never recovered to be all-out for 107 in 18 overs, losing by 13 runs.
Eagle Sports spinners Javon Kellawan 3-18, Korie Jabbar 3-27 and Keon Narine 2-17 were the successful bowlers.
Rising Sun and Eagle Sports will now clash in the final scheduled for April 2, at the same venue while the two losing semi-finalists will vie in the third-place play-off.
Meanwhile over $200 000 in incentives along with trophies will be at stake. The tournament is sponsored by businessman Alfro Alphonso and Company and is being played in the memory of his father and father-in-law.
The competition is now in its twelfth consecutive year.