THE penultimate round of the Central Essequibo T20 League continued on Sunday with exciting wins for Bacchus Bulls and Cotton Field S.C at the Imam Bacchus ground in Affiance.

In the first game, host Bacchus Bulls stayed unbeaten with a 23-run victory against Reliance Hustlers. After winning the toss and batting, the Bulls paced their way to 152 all out in the 20^th over. A solid half-century by former national Under-19 batsman, Parmesh Parsotam, thrilled the appreciative crowd, including national youth selector Autto Christiani. Parsotam stroked his way to 55, laced with 5 sweetly-timed boundaries and 2 massive sixes to record his fourth consecutive half-century.

He received valuable support from Navindra Persaud with 35 (3x4s) to pilot the Bulls to a challenging total. Off-spinner Pavindra Persaud claimed 2-26 from his 4 overs. In reply, Reliance Hustlers were kept on the back foot by some hostile fast bowling on a pitch that offered considerable pace and bounce.

A barrage of short-pitched bowling was the trend throughout the Bulls display in the field. Opener Mark Austin, 32 (5x4s) and Pavindra Persaud, 30 (2x4s and 2x6s) briefly resisted with some exquisite stroke-play as they counter-attacked. However, when they departed, the innings declined and Cotton Field reached 129-8 when the overs expired. Incisive seam bowling from Ganesh Mangal accounted for impressive figures of 4-14 from his 4 overs for another win for the Bulls and a place in the semi-final.

In the second game at the same venue, Cotton Field S.C secured a tense 4-wicket triumph against Ravens to also book a semi-final spot. After being inserted to bat first, Ravens amassed a challenging 144-6 from a reduced 17 overs due to limited available time.

Consistent contributions from Ganesh Boodram, 34 (4x4s and 2x6s), Glendon Smith, 27 (5x4s) and Elroy Stephney with an unbeaten 25, were the mainstay of the innings. In their turn at the crease, Cotton Field was indebted to a flawless half-century from Boomesh Ramdahin whose superb 52 contained 6x4s and 2x6s. He received admirable support from Rajiv Ramkissoon’s 27 (3x4s) and Kevin Persaud’s 22 (4x4s) as Cotton Field chased the target all the way to the final over needing 11 runs.

 A clean hit for 6 from the first delivery broke the wings of Ravens as they couldn’t deny Cotton Field an exciting win with 2 deliveries to spare. Former Essequibo senior inter-county all-rounder Elroy Stephney (2-26) and Safraz Ally (2-24) bowled in a losing cause.

The final round of matches will be played on Sunday at various venues with Bacchus Bulls, Cotton Field and Reliance Hustlers already through to the play-offs.