WD Masters, Regal to tussle in today’s final

WEST Demerara (WD) Masters and Regal Masters will face each other in today’s final of GCB Tropical Spring T20 Over-40 tourney, after completing resounding semi-final wins yesterday.
In the first match in the semis reduced to 15 overs per side, WD Mavericks, having won the toss, elected to bat first. After stumbling to 33 for 2 from 7.2 overs, before rain interrupted once again, Muneshwar Balgobin and middle-order batsman Sohan Bedasi were unbeaten on 17 and 10 respectively. Ramesh Thakur had taken both wickets to fall at this stage. Following a prompt restart after the short interruption in play which lasted less than 10 minutes, the in-form Muneshwar Balgobin sought to propel the score, hitting a six before he was out for 24 with the score on 41 for 3. However, with the overs dwindling WD Mavericks found it difficult to post a challenging total, closing their innings at 67 for 8 off 15 overs. Sohan Bedasi was the only other major contributor with the bat with 20, a knock which included 2 sixes. Bowling for WD Masters, Chabiraj Ramcharran had exceptional figures of 3 for 8 from 3 overs and Ramesh Thakur 2 for 12 from 3 overs. Steve Haripaul and Seenarine Mathura took 1 for 12 and 1 for 14 respectively.

In reply, WD Masters lost wickets periodically to give WD Mavericks a glimmer of hope, However Masters were eventually able to surpass the WD Mavericks’ score, reaching for 68 for 5 from 12.4 overs. Captain Sudesh Persaud was the most instrumental with the bat, stroking an unbeaten 21, while Patrick Khan was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 11 not out. WD Mavericks bowling was led by Devendra Ramdehol’s magical figures of 2 for 3 from 3 overs, while Lalta Suknanan and David Albert claimed 2 for 18 from 3 overs and 1 for 12 from 2 overs respectively. WD Masters won by 5 wickets. In the second semi-final match, Regal Masters won the toss and inserted Jai Hind to bat. Regal’s decision appeared a favourable one, as they sent back the first 5 Jai Hind batsmen without any of them being able to reach double figures. Veerapen Moonsammy stroked 31 before being run-out for 38, while the in-form Anil Beharry, batting in the lower order on this occasion, supported with 21. Jai Hind managed to make 97 all out from their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Regal raced to 43 for 2 from 3.5, before rain interrupted play Number 2 opening batsman David Dick slammed 18, inclusive of 2 sixes before being caught off the bowling of Deonarine.

At the interruption, the number 1 opening batsman, Chien Gittens was unbeaten on 16, a knock that included 2 fours, while middle-order batsman Ejaz Mohammed was yet to face a ball. With play scheduled to restart, it was initially reduced to 15 overs with Regal needing 80 to win. However, Jai Hind having first stepped into the field, initially refused to play due to what they called wet and slippery conditions. However, the call on conditions, weather and light, resided with the umpires, and by the time, they were able to ascertain the reason for Jai Hind’s unwillingness to remain on the field, and a decision to play was agreed to, by Jai Hind, the overs had to be further reduced to 8, with Regal needing only 47 to win. Regal, already 43 for 2, needed only 4 runs from 4.1 overs. This Duckworth Lewis and Stern calculation had the writing on the wall for Jai Hind, in what can be considered resilient attempts by the fielding side to indicate unfavourable fielding conditions – one bowler attempting to bowl, from the southern end aborting his run and the other sliding as he approached the crease to deliver. However, Jai Hind’s attempts for the umpires to abandon the match failed, as the match officials eventually awarded the match to Regal Masters, as Jai Hind refused to continue play.. WD Masters will oppose Regal Masters today from 12:00hrs at Everest, with the Enmore Community Centre ground being the alternative venue reserved, should weather threaten play in the city.