By Frederick Halley

AFTER witnessing their Legends counterparts win a dramatic last-over final to retain championship honours in the Legends Over-50 category, Regal Masters ensured another title for the prestigious Campbellville-based club with an emphatic nine-wicket victory over Ariel Masters in their Masters Over-40 final, played as part of the sixth edition of the Prime Minister T20 Softball tournament which ended at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday night.

Set 119 for victory, after Ariel Masters were bowled out for 118 in 19,2 overs in the 20-over affair, Regal Masters cruised to 119 for one in 13.1 overs with the experienced Chien Gittens undefeated on 43 and number three batter, Khemchandra Dindial 34 not out.

The two came together with the score on 59 in the sixth over after opener Patrick Rooplall went via the run-out route for a quick-fire 31, which included four fours and a six, and were still together when victory was achieved, sharing an unbeaten second-wicket partnership of 60.

Mixing aggression with solid defence, Gittens struck six fours in his 43 while Dindial counted two fours and an equal number of sixes in his knock.

Earlier, skipper Samuel Kingston, who entered the fray following the first-ball dismissal of opener Patrick Khan, dazzled with a spectacular innings of 58.

Khan, who got a brute of a delivery from Captain Bobby Parasnauth, edged to the wicket-keeper after Ariel Masters were inserted.

Undaunted by the early loss, Kingston was in a no-nonsense mood, playing some pugnacious strokes in his entertaining knock which was decorated with four fours and three sixes. His partner, opener Oslyn Batson (17), was content to play second fiddle, the two sharing a second-wicket partnership of 76.

Once Kingston’s stumps were rocked back by Roy Persaud in the 11th over, it was all down hill for Ariel Masters as they lost their remaining eight batters for the addition of 42 runs with only number 10, Shawn Hubbard (12) reaching double figures.

Persaud, who started the demolition job, ended with the impressive figures of four for 24 from his four overs while Gittens “cleaned” up the lower-order, finishing with two for five from 2.2 overs.

Regal Masters pocketed the $600,000 winner’s prize and a trophy while Ariel Masters received $50,000 and the runner-up trophy. Gittens deservedly won the man-of-the-match award while the Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize went to Patrick Rooplall, who took home a 50-inch flat screen TV, compliments of Regal Stationery and Computer Supplies. All the trophies were sponsored by Trophy Stall.

Meanwhile, the organisers took the opportunity to express sincere thanks to the several sponsors, which included Banks DIH Ltd. (Rainforest Waters), Danny Persaud (YouTuber) It’s Our Life ARD, Trophy Stall, Pro Signs, I & S Trading, Tourism Guyana, Reliance Services, Parsram Discount Store, Ameer & Amrit Furniture Store, Khan’s Trading Enterprise, HL Latino America Furniture (Panama), P&P Insurance, Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Chung’s Global Enterprise, Atlantic Marine Supplies Inc., Crown Mining Supplies, Rudisa Motor Company (Guy) Inc., Freelancer Advertising Agency, Krsna & Amp; Balram Printery, Rajiv Gandhi University and Ofimak Office Supplies (Panama).