By Frederick Halley

WITNESSED by President, Dr Irfaan Ali, who is also Commander-in-chief of the Joint Services and several senior officers, including Commissioner of Police (acting), Colin Hicken, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Officers shrugged off their preliminary round defeat at the hands of archrivals Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Officers to retain the Commander-in-chief T20 title when the final ended yesterday before their raucous supporters at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

The GDF Officers had inflicted a 24-run defeat on their opponents on the opening day of the annual tournament but failed to replicate that win when it matters most.
Led by a superb bowling spell by left-arm spinner Ivor Trotz, who bagged five for 23 from his four overs and a swashbuckling undefeated 52 from Trevor Benn, GPF snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, reaching the required 160 for eight, after restricting GDF to 158 for eight, with a mere two deliveries to spare.

The game ebbed and flowed throughout the GPF innings, with the home team still needing 32 off the last two overs. It was then that Benn decided to throw caution to the wind, smashing Randy Wade to all parts of the ground which saw him conceding 21 runs in the 19th over, which included two sixes and a four.

It was a rude awakening for Wade, who had earlier bowled the only maiden of the game. With eight needed in the last over, Benn blasted Jamal Ferreira’s first ball of the final over for a six over mid-wicket, took a single off the second, allowing his partner Michael Newland to score the required single as the GPF supporters swarmed the playing area.
Benn, who shared an important fifth-wicket partnership of 53 with Trotz (24), and an unbeaten 26 with Newland (two), struck a solitary four and five huge sixes.

Police were earlier given a fait start of 60 in 8.4 overs between skipper Ravindradat Budhram (25) and the consistent Troy Benn who struck four fours and a six in his 35 but slumped from 60 without loss to 71 for four in the 12th over before the rescue act by Benn and the lower-order ensured the winning trophy remained at Police Headquarters.

Winning the toss and opting to take first strike, GDF were in immediate trouble, losing the prized wicket of their captain and leading scorer, Rockael Reddy (one), bowled by Trevor Benn in the day’s second over.
Wade, who partnered his skipper, batted valiantly through the innings for a gritty unbeaten 49, which contained two fours and an equal number of sixes, sharing in several partnerships, the most important being 62 for the eighth-wicket with Andre McFarlane who was run out off the last ball of the innings for 28, spiced with two fours and two sixes.

Apart from the standout Trotz, Steven Harris took one for 19 while Trevor Benn, the brother of Troy, claimed one for 39.
In the toss up for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, Trevor Benn understandably got the nod over Trotz for his sparkling knock. Trotz however received a trophy for being the best fielder, taking a stupendous catch on the long-on boundary to dismiss the dangerous looking Hackeem David who’s entertaining 44, batting at number four, was decorated with two fours and four sixes. Troy Benn, who struck the lone century of the tournament, was voted the best batsman.

Apart from the winning and runners-up trophies, members of both teams were also the recipient of medals. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) took home the third-place trophy after the Guyana Prison Service Officers were a no show for their third place playoff game, scheduled for the same venue on Friday.
In brief remarks at the impressive presentation ceremony, President Ali congratulated all the participating teams and hailed the camaraderie displayed among the teams