… Yusuf, Narine centuries highlight opening day

By Frederick Halley

CENTURIES by Uniss Yusuf and Ramesh Narine of Regal Legends were the main highlights on the opening day of the sixth edition of the Prime Minister T20 Softball tournament which got underway yesterday at various venues around Georgetown and the East Coast, Demerara in soggy conditions.

East Coast Titans’ Asif Ali also recorded a century (123) at the Liliendaal ground as his team trounced Canal Number One Scorpions by 109 runs in the Masters Over-40 category.
Playing at the MYO ground, Yusuf and Narine blasted the Trophy Stall Lions’ bowling to all parts of the small venue, with the former ending with an unbeaten 157 while Narine was 116 not out when the 20 overs expired.

The two cane together following the dismissal of Mahendra Arjune (34) and feasted on the hapless Trophy Stall Lions’ attack with Yusuf slamming five fours and 17 sixes in his entertaining knock while Narine’s innings was laced with five fours and 12 sixes as Regal Legends reached a daunting 330 for one in their allotted 20 overs.

Trophy Stall Lions managed 71 for nine in 17 overs, batting one short, losing by the hefty margin of 269 runs, with Wayne Jones claiming four for 20.
The defending champions then ensured themselves a place in their next encounter, played at the same venue, thrashing East Coast Legends by seven wickets, with Narine again among the runs. The slimly-built left-hander, who is still to be dismissed in the tournament, belted an unbeaten 87 with four fours and nine sixes as Regal Legends reached 174 for three in reply to their opponents 173 for nine in 20 overs. Jones took three for 11 and Eric Thomas three for 34.

New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) also qualified for a semi-final spot with victories over Parika Defenders and Jai Hind Legends at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.
Batting first against Parika Defenders in a reduced 15-over game, NYSCL, aided by a fine 66 from Tony Fernandez, reached a useful 148 for five before restricting Parika Defenders to 97 for five in their 15 overs.

The New Yorkers then disposed of Jai Hind, limiting the Berbicians to 88 for six off 20 overs before reaching 89 for seven in 17.3 overs.
Invaders Legends from Essequibo became the third team to qualify for the Legends semis with victories over Jai Hind and Parika Defenders, the latter being a last-ball thriller after they needed 12 from the final over with eight wickets down.

At Liliendaal, East Coast Titans batted first and made 191 for six in their 20 overs with Ali’s century containing six fours and 14 sixes. Canal Number One Scorpions were 82 for eight when the innings ended.

Regal Masters also made light work of Ariel Masters at Lusignan with Chien Gittens starring with an unbeaten 64 (five fours and five sixes as Regal Masters comfortably overhauled Ariel Masters’ 109.

Meanwhile, several of the Masters matches scheduled for the afternoon session on the East Coast were rained out with the teams awarded one point each.
The tournament continues today and will also feature the two women’s semi-finals at the Malteenoes and Transport Sports Club grounds.

The day’s proceedings got off to an excellent start with Prime Minister Mark Phillips addressing the officials and players at the MYO and also officiating in the ceremonial bat and bowl off.
The Prime Minister expressed his delight that the sixth edition of the tournament was able to accommodate a women’s category.

He also praised the organisers for doing a wonderful job and was pleased with the number of sponsorship the tournament – which is organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Youth and Sport – had attracted.