By Frederick Halley

PLAYING unbeaten throughout the three days of competition, the dominant Ariel Masters were crowned the Over-40 champions when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc. 2025 Republic T20 Softball Tournament, held in honour of Guyana’s 55th Republican status, ended at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary on Sunday.

The lop-sided 91-run victory over Super Strickers was engineered by three dazzling half-centuries from Chien Gittens (78), skipper Samuel Kingston (55) and Richard Latif (50).
Asked to take first strike by opposing captain Patrick Khan, Ariel Masters obliged with an imposing 230 for four in their allotted 20 overs as Super Strickers bowlers wilted under the immense pressure. The daunting task proved too much for Super Strickers who were shut out for 139 in 15 overs.
Ariel Masters were given a flying start by Kingston and Asif Ali (19), the pair adding 42 in a mere three overs before the latter was dismissed. The onslaught continued with Kington and Gittens sharing a second-wicket partnership of 63 in six overs.
Looking to further up the tempo, Kingston skied a catch to cover to end his fine innings which contained six fours and three sixes.

There was no respite for the Super Strickers bowlers with the arrival of “Mr Cricket,” Latif. Together with Gittens, they flayed the hapless bowlers to all parts of the Eve Leary ground, sharing a third wicket stand of 101 before both were dismissed, hunting quick runs in the dying stages of the innings,

Gittens’ 78 was decorated with six fours and three sixes while Latif’s knock was spiced with three fours and five sixes. Wazir Majeed took two for 29.
Despite spirited knocks from Latchman Beharry who hit 30 with two fours and three sixes and Keith Fraser (23 with two sixes), Super Strickers, who lost wickets at regular intervals, were never up to the huge task. Safraz Haniff claimed two for 20, Manoj Arjune two for 41 while there was one wicket each for Kingston and Latif for 12 and 19 runs respectively.

In Saturday’s semi-finals, played at the Queen’s College ground, Ariel Masters made light work of Fisherman Masters with Latif clobbering 16 fours and five sixes in a brilliant 130 while Gittens hit an even half-century in their team’s total of 239 for six. Fisherman Masters, in reply, were restricted to 166 for five when their overs expired.

The other game saw Super Strickers upstaging Regal Masters, winning with two balls to spare after chasing down 205. Ganesh Mangal led the way for the eventual winners with a fine 65 (six fours and four sixes).
Earlier, Regal Legends were bolstered by a robust 77 from Patrick Rooplall who struck four fours and six sixes and Ravi Singh who contributed a valiant undefeated 69 (seven fours and three sixes).

The winning Ariel Masters team carted off the first prize of $200,000 and a trophy while the runners-up collected $50,000 and the runners-up trophy. All the trophies were sponsored by Trophy Stall through the generosity of its proprietor Ramesh Sunich.

Apart from Trophy Stall, the other sponsors included Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, Ofimak Office Supplies of Panama, of which Regal are the sole distributors of its office supplies, ARD YouTuber, Price Chopper, Khan’s Trading Enterprise, Elegance Jewelry & Pawn Shop, Terminex Pest Control – Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, Lucky Star Trading and Derick’s Variety Store.