By Colin Bynoe

THE Roy Fredericks Floodlight Cup ‘REVOLUTION’, organised by the Blairmont Centre Cricket Club (BCCC), ended in high drama with a last-ball hit in the super-over encounter that burst the fingers of the long-on fielder of Blairmont Blazers and which eventually resulted in a six, last Saturday evening under floodlights at the historic Albion Sports Complex.

The day’s action saw Albion Cricket Club (ACC) do battle against Port Mourant Titans (PMT) in match one with the home team Albion easily getting the better of their counterparts.

Titans won the toss and elected to field, and home team Albion wasted no time in the 10-over affair, as they dished out 101-3 off their 10 over allotment with S. Chaitraine top-scoring with 29.

In reply, Titans could manage only 79-7 when their overs expired.

In match two, Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets (RHTG&G) batted first against Young Warriors and rattled up a very challenging score of 131 off their 10 overs with A. Naidu blasting a top score of 42, supported by Troy Matterson 34.

When Young Warriors took the crease they found the going rough as Keith Simpson and Larose stifled their reply with two wickets apiece. The Young Warriors team eventually ended with 82-7 off 10 overs.

In match three, Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) beat the Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club (RHCCCC) by seven wickets. RHCCCC took first strike and churned out a modest score of 74-6 in 10 overs. UCCA reached the total with ease 76-3, M Lalu scoring 49 not out.

In the first 15-over-per-side semi-final, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets defeated Albion Community Centre by 43 runs. Batting first RHTG&G made a testing score of 114-9, Albion were reduced to 71-7 with Keith Simpson again being the main destroyer with 2 for 9.

The second semi-final saw Blairmont Blazers go up against Upper Corentyne Cricket Association. The Blazers won by 27 runs and entered into the grand final. Blazers took to the crease and blasted a demanding total of 154 with Imran Khan pummelling an attractive 67 with good support form Kevon Jawahir 32.

UCCA managed only 127 when their overs ended, as D. Budhoo and P. Persaud showed some resistance with 45 and 25 respectively.

The highly anticipated final resulted in a much-talked about super-over encounter.

In the coin toss RHTG&G won the toss and opted to take first strike, Eon Hooper and Troy Matterson had scores of 32 and 27 to take their team to a workable total of 99 for the loss of six wickets when their 10-over allotment ended. Bowling for Blairmont Blazers, Shabeer Baksh and Deven Clements took 2 wickets each.

In reply, Blairmont Blazers may have thought that a score of 100 would be chased with ease.

They started their reply in high spirits but disciplined bowling from tournament-leading wicket-taker Keith Simpson 3 for 15 and clever support form Eon Hooper stalled Blairmont’s charge. They ended the 10-over affair tied on 99/7. Imran Khan blasted his second half-century in as many games – 59 for the Blazers.

The tie meant that a super over will have to break the deadlock.

In the super over Blazers scored 11. RHTG&G responded with a last-ball six that eluded the fielder on the boundary and went for six. This sent their supporters into frenzy. The RHTG&G held their nerves to take home the Roy Firebricks ‘Revolution’ 2018 winning Trophy.