INVADERS Masters of South Essequibo played unbeaten to win the inaugural Orlando Cricket Club sponsored T10 softball title on Sunday at the Reliance ground.

The four-team tournament was played over two days and attracted some of the best softball players from the county. In the preliminary round on Saturday, Orlando Legends of the USA got past Reliance Hustlers who posted 90-6 from their 10 overs to which the Legends replied with 91-7 in the 9^th over for a 3-wicket win.

Invaders Masters then disposed of Reliance Hustlers who batted first and made 73-8. Former national T20 all-rounder Ramesh Narine then blasted an entertaining 51 laced with 5x6s and 4x4s to propel the Masters to 75-4 in just 6 overs.

Invaders Masters again was indebted to the destructive Ramesh Narine who hammered an unbeaten 67 (7x6s, 3x4s) to defeat Imam Bacchus Legends who batted first and made 95-8 from their 10 overs.

It was not enough as Narine’s explosive half-century galloped the Masters to 98-5 in the 8^th over. It was a good day also for Orlando Legends as they too defeated Imam Bacchus Legends. Fine innings of 43 each from Basil Persaud and Patrick Rooplall rocketed Orlando Legends to 138-4

. Rooplall clobbered (5×6, 2×4) while Persaud cleared the boundary five times. Bacchus Legends replied with 109-8 to endure another defeat. On Sunday, Reliance Hustlers rebounded to defeat Bacchus Legends who batted first and reach 78-6 from their 10 overs.

 An unbeaten 48 (4×6, 2×4) from Teddy Manchal steered the Hustlers to 80-4 for a 6-wicket win. Ramesh Narine then unleashed another master class performance to lead Invaders Masters’ thrilling 5 wicket win against Orlando Legends and a place in the final.

The Legends reached a challenging 130-5 in their 10 overs with Sunil Persaud striking 41 (3×6, 4×4). An unbeaten 92 (12×6) from Narine saw the Masters eclipsed the total reaching 132-7 in the 9^th over. In the knock-out phase, Reliance Hustlers defeated Orlando Legends after scoring 105-7 with Marvin Pearson smashing 38 (4×6).

 They then restricted the Legends to 102-8 when the overs were completed. The final was then contested with Reliance Hustlers reaching 96-9 with Trevis Simon top-scoring with 32 (3×6, 2×4).

An unbeaten 48 from former Essequibo senior inter-county batsman Latchmikhant Narine was enough to give Invaders Masters the title as they reach the target with an over to spare.

 Narine was later adjudged Man- of- the-Match when the presentation was conducted. Also receiving prizes were Ramesh Narine as the Best Batsman and Most Valuable Player, Arif Mohamed as the best bowler and Marvin Pearson as the best fielder.

The players received trophies and monetary prizes. Invaders Masters then pocketed $300 US and the winning trophy while Reliance Hustlers collected a trophy and 100 US as the runners-up. A donation of $1000 US was also made to the Reliance Management Committee by the president of the Orlando Cricket Club Mr. Tom Bacchus.

 A massive crowd witnessed the two days of exciting cricket and the sponsor has indicated that it will be an annual feature.