THE air is thick with anticipation as the East Coast/Georgetown zone braces for a weekend of electrifying tapeball cricket in the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast. What begins as a sprawling battlefield of 32 teams will culminate in a Sunday showdown, leaving just one champion standing after an intense series of contests.
A staggering 31 matches are slated over the course of Saturday and Sunday, with Saturday’s action unfolding across seven different grounds: Malteenoes Sports Club, Georgetown Cricket Club, Better Hope Community Centre, Lusignan Sports Club, Everest Cricket Club, YMCA, and the National Stadium at Providence.
The grand finale will then shift to the Lusignan Sports Club on Sunday, with the battle for supremacy commencing at 10:30hrs.
All eyes will be on the defending national champions, Titans All-Stars, a side boasting a formidable lineup spearheaded by the experienced Leon Johnson. He will have a wealth of talent, including Christopher Barnwell, Keemo Paul, Kemol Savory, and Quentin Sampson – names synonymous with Guyanese cricket.
However, Team Corruption has thrown down the gauntlet with some eye-catching acquisitions. Their roster now features a quartet of Trinidadian stars: Jesse Bootan, Djourn Charles, Joshua James, and Terrence Hinds. This signals their intent to go beyond their 2023 semi-final finish.
Yet, the path to glory is paved with challenges, and the Village Rams, under the guidance of seasoned tapeball campaigner and former national youth player Omesh Danram, are certainly among the top contenders. They will be banking on a blend of Danram’s experience and the exuberance of some of Guyana’s most promising young cricketers.
A closer look at the remaining teams, many representing local communities, reveals a treasure trove of cricketing talent. National players such as Rajendra Chandrika and Tagenarine Chanderpaul are set to feature, alongside a host of talented junior players eager to make their mark. Keep an eye out too for Brooklyn Youth Strikers, a team with a reputation built on their performances in 2024, and the always unpredictable Pure Entertainers.
The East Coast will have its hopes pinned on teams such as Lusignan, Better Hope, Young Rivals, and Dream 11, each capable of springing a surprise. But with such a wealth of talent spread across the board, predicting the zone champion at this stage feels like an exercise in futility – it’s simply too close to call.
The complete list of participating teams reads: Mighty Tarmac Legends, Vipers All-Stars, The Other Guys, Tropix Essentials, Up Tap XI, Team Eastsyde, Hill Foot Strikers, Team Corruption, Mystic Marvels, Pure Entertainers, Mavericks All-Stars, East-West Matadors, Supernovas, Titans All-Stars, Kings, Beharry Champion XI, Better Hope All-Stars, Giftland Titans, No Limit, Team AVP, Lusignan Sports Club, Royal Raptors, Housing & Water One Guyana, Team Upsetterz, Village Rams, Powertech, Dream 11 All-Stars, Raps Blazers, Brooklyn Youth Strikers, Navins and Sons Construction XI, Young Rivals Sports Club, and Team Infinity.
Cricket fans can look forward to a weekend of high-octane action, with the finals scheduled for Sunday, July 20th, at Lusignan.
Adding to the excitement, admission to all venues throughout the tournament is free, with matches kicking off from 09:30h on Saturday.
Beyond the bragging rights, significant financial rewards are also on offer. The zone champion will receive a handsome $300,000, while the runner-up will receive $100,000.
But the stakes get even higher at the national final, where teams will vie for a grand prize of $1.7 million. The national runner-up will pocket $700,000 along with a trophy and medals, and even the losing semi-finalists will be rewarded with $300,000 each.
Individual brilliance won’t go unnoticed either, with a host of prizes up for grabs, including MVP ($150,000 + motorcycle), Most Runs ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Most Wickets ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Man-of-the-National Final ($75,000 + trophy + TV), Highest Strike Rate ($35,000), and Best Economy ($35,000).
The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garnered support from a wide range of sponsors, including Kares Engineering Inc, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, Banks DIH, ENet, Guyana Lottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant & Lounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’s Clinic, GuyOil, ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s Academy, Navin Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental & Technical Solutions.