Gladiators beat Bartica Super Strikers by 21 runs

WATCHED by a large gathering at the Dagg Point Community Centre Ground, Gladiators beat Bartica Super Strikers by 21 runs in the final of the Bartica Premier League t20 tournament on Sunday last.

The fans created a Kaleidoscope of color, producing a fantastic atmosphere on a day in which sixes rained from the flashing blades in shot-filled innings from the pugnacious batters on the small ground.

Gladiators elected to bat and spearheaded by 48 off 15 balls with seven sixes and a four from Leon Swamy, were dismissed for 182 in 14.5 overs.

Other contributors included 34 off 17 balls with three fours and three sixes from Kelvin Orford, 28 from 11 balls with three sixes and a four from Wicket-Keeper Jermaine Dover, 25 from 24 balls with two fours and a couple of sixes from Skipper Adrian Branford and 21 with two fours and a six from Marvin Peters.

Ashberk Hohenkirk captured 5-50 from three expensive overs while Chris Harry had 4-44 from his three overs.

Bartica Super Stickers were restricted to 161-5 when their 15 overs expired despite an unbeaten belligerent 73 from 23 balls with five fours and seven sixes Garfield Phillips.

Phillips shared in an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 82 from just 30 balls with Harry, who clobbered three fours and two sixes in his 14-ball 30.

After the leading runs scorer in the tournament Renaldo Jeffery departed at 30-2 after smashing four-fours and a six in quick-fire 23 from 12 balls, only Ravie Seenarine (18) and Timothy Cornelius (10) offered fight.

But once they were removed by Ashton Simmons who also got rid of Ricardo Williams for duck to leave the score on 79-5, the match seemed to be heading for a quick conclusion.

However, Phillips and Harry kept hopes of a sensational come-from-behind victory alive to the delight of their screaming supporters but it was too late as the overs ran out with them 26 runs short.

Simmons had 3-21 from his three overs.

Jeffery dominated with the bat; scoring 480 runs with scores of 120 ,168 not out ,118, 104, 69, 23 to take Most Valuable Player of the tournament award.

He was also adjudged the ‘Best youth player of the tournament and the batter with the most runs in the tournament.

Former National U-19 Wicket-Keeper Delroy Jacobs, one of the coordinators of the tournament said he was pleased with the manner in which it was run.

“This tournament is proof that there is plenty of talent in Bartica and are hoping that that players like Jeffery get an opportunity to play for a team in the city. A lack of accommodation remains the main problem”, informed Jacobs who with cousin Steven Jacobs for Malteenoes. (Sean Devers)