By Frederick Halley

IN 2023 it took a super over to decide the eventual winners of the Masters category in the seventh edition of the annual Prime Minister’s softball tournament with Regal Masters prevailing over Ariel Masters at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown.
This year saw no such drama as Ariel Masters romped to an impressive 16-run victory over Fisherman Masters at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, to claim the coveted title which had also eluded them in 2022 versus archrivals Regal Masters at the Guyana National Stadium.
The victory was engineered by a fine all-round team effort with the experienced Richard Latif and Chien Gittens starring with both bat and ball and a masterful 19th over from New York-based Murph Seeram, described by many as the “over of the tournament.”
Set 198 for victory, after Ariel Masters had reached a formidable 197 for six in their allotted 20 overs, the game see-sawed back and forth with Fisherman Masters still in contention after the 18th over when they needed 22 from 12 balls with two wickets intact. Bowling with unerring accuracy, Seeram conceded a wide in the all-important 19th over, virtually ending any chances of Fisherman Masters coming out victorious.

Fisherman Masters were eventually bowled out for 183 with Gittens capturing two wickets in the final over to end with three for 35. Ameer Nizamudin supported with three for 39 while the ever-reliable Latif claimed two for 38.
Opener Zaki Salim had earlier gave his team a flying start, hitting six fours and two sixes in 46 and along with the hard-hitting Keith Fraser, who slammed a quick-fire 35, decorated with a four and five sixes, gave Fisherman Masters hope with a fine second-wicket partnership of 67 following the early loss of Dubraj Singh (two) in the second over.

Dhaniram Lalaram chipped in with a four and three sixes in his 22 but once wickets fell at regular intervals, the pressure mounted on Fisherman Masters middle and lower-order batsmen.
Earlier, the lethal combination of Gittens and Latif proved vital after Ariel Masters won the toss and elected to bat first. Gittens, who stroked an elegant 49 with five fours and two sixes, shared in an opening stand of 53 in six overs with Assif Ali who contributed 29 with three fours and a six.
Latif then joined the party, following the departure of Ali, adding 84 for the second wicket with Gittens before departing for a polished 40 which contained two fours and four sixes.
Bowling for Fisherman Masters, Lalaram bagged three for 21 and Anthony Arjune two for 33.

At the impressive presentation ceremony, which followed, Latif, who enjoyed a fine all-round tournament, copped both the player of the final and Most Valuable Player awards. He collected a trophy for the player of the final and an electric scooter, compliments of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre for being the MVP.

The winners also took home $600,000 and the winners’ trophy while the runner-up collected $100,000 and a trophy. All the trophies were donated by Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall.
Appreciation plaques were presented to John Ramsingh, Inderjeet Persaud and Canadian-based journalists Frederick Halley and Ravi Madholall for their coverage of the tournament.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, deputised for Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who was unavoidably absent.

While praising the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) for its excellent organising of the eighth edition of the tournament, Minister Ramson told the players who weren’t in the winners’ row to not consider themselves as losers since their mere participation was extremely important for the grassroot sport. He also called on the organisers to seek avenues to make the tournament even bigger.

The minister, who was accompanied by Assistant Director of Sport, Franklyn Wilson, also reminded the teams about the staging of the second Vice-president softball tournament, set to be held on the weekend of November 8-10.