By Frederick Halley

ON a day when none of the three defending men’s champions retained championship honours, Jai Hind of Berbice claimed the Legends Over-50 title, inflicting a five-wicket defeat over Regal Legends to end their supremacy since the category was introduced in the annual Prime Minister’s T20 Softball tournament in 2017.
Led by a superb knock of 67 from Lloyd Ruplall, Jai Hind held their nerves to register a five-wicket win with one over to spare after Regal Legends staged a fightback in defence of their 163 for nine in the allotted 20 overs,
The experienced Ruplall proved to be the catalyst in the reply. After losing his opening partner, Hasant Ali with just 13 on the board in the second over, he shared a vital second wicket partnership with skipper and former national player Vejai Seonarine before the latter was bowled by Asiif Ali for a well- made 39, which included five fours and two sixes.

By the time Rupall was eventually bowled by Mahendrnauth “Bobby” Parasnauth in the 17th over, after smacking two fours and five sixes, Jai Hind needed a mere 17 runs to complete the formalities.
Richard Kellowan, with three fours and a six, in an unbeaten 22 ensured there were no further hiccups as the players from the Ancient County celebrated gleefully when victory was achieved.

Former Guyana player, David Harper, ended with two for 44 while there was one wicket each for Asif Ali, Parasnauth and captain Mohendra Arjune.
Earlier, Regal Legends were jolted in the second over after the usually reliable Uniss Yusuf went caught by Khemraj Sumair after hitting a six. They slipped to 14 for three, losing the wickets of Saturday’s centurions Asif Ali (one) and Eon Abel (four). Jagdesh Persaud (0) followed at 23 for five in the fifth over.

Arjune and Surujdeo Ramdeen stabled the innings somewhat with a sixth-wicket partnership of 39 which was dominated by the former who struck three fours and two sixes before departing, caught off the bowling of Seonarine.
At 87 for seven in the 14th over, the defending champions looked dead and buried before a lower-order rally, initiated by the hard-hitting Rudolph Baker, who thumped two fours and four sixes in an entertaining 40, got Regal Legends to 163. Wayne Jones chipped in with 21 (three fours) and Ramdeen 19 (three fours).
Seonarine finished with three for 42, Hasant Ali two for 18, Azeem Khaderoo two for 40 and Khemraj Sumair one for 30.

Ruplall easily claimed the player of the final award while Sumair, who starred with both bat and ball, claiming 10 wickets and scoring 260 runs up to the semi-final stage of the tournament, was deservedly named Most Valuable Player of the category, “riding away” with an electric scooter, compliments of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre.

The winners, runners-up and player of the final trophies were donated by Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall.
The winners also took home the hefty cash prize of $600,000 while the runners-up received $100,000.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson jnr., who deputised for Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who was unavoidably absent, showered praise on the organisers, the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc, for once more running a well-organised tournament.
The minister reminded the players and those present of the commitment of the Prime Minister to uphold the tradition of the tournament and urged the organisers to strive to make it even better. He also remined them of the upcoming Vice-president softball tournament, which was inaugurated last year

and is due to be staged on the weekend of November 8-10 this year.
The Minister was also presented with an appreciation plaque by GSCL Secretary Telesha Ousman on behalf of the league.