TREVER Benn scored a pugnacious sunbeaten 71 and shared in a couple half-century partnerships while spinner Joshua Budram captured 3-14 as Officers marched in tomorrow’s final after defeating 4A and 4B combined by 55 runs yesterday at Police ground, Eve Leary.
Scores: Officers (175-5 in 20 overs), 4A and 4B (120 in 19 overs. Watched by a larger gathering than the first Semi-final on Monday, Combined Unit invited the Officers to bat on good track and fast outfield under a blue sky.
Ronaldo Ail (14) fell to Darsan LaRose and Budram (21) was dismissed by Orin Venture to leave the Officers on 53-3.
But Trever Benn, a former Guyana first-class team selectee, and Stephon Harris orchestrated a recovery with a fluent 53- run stand in scorching heat before Harris, the brother of former
GDF and National U-19 pacer Jermiah Harris, was removed by LaRose for 31 with two fours at a six.
His demise left the Officers on 106-4 before Ivor Henry departed for a duck to give Henry his second scalp a run later in the 18th over.
Rahem Haynes joined Trevor Benn, who soon reached his fifty and together they launched a brutal attack on their junior ranks; scoring 68 runs in 2.2 overs when at one stage it seemed the Officers would not reach 125.
Trevor Benn clobbered two fours and six sixes in 38-ball 71 while the left-handed Haynes smashed a cameo 17 from seven balls with two sixes and a four.
Pacer LaRose, who conceded 19 in the 19th over, had 2-39 while Henry finished with 2-33.
Venture and Quincy Kendall began the run chase with guns blazing to the delight of the raucous crowd which included former IPL all-rounder Chris Barnwell and several members the Headquarters’ team.
Both batters pounced on Harris and deposited him over his for sixes.
Venture drilled him past mid-on like a bullet from gun and followed it up with a four and six in an over that cost 20.
But Troy Benn, bowling medium pace with lots of slower balls removed the dangerous Venture with his first ball as the younger of Benn siblings, started with a maiden wicket to break the partnership.
Man-of-the-Match, Trevor Benn, bowling off a four-step run-up, induced Quency Kendal (17) to edge a ball that left him to the keeper and after at the six-over power-play the score was 52-2.
Troy Benn removed Troy Drakes (7) at 61-3 and celebrated with his brother shining his boots to the delight of the fans in the stand. There was live commentary at the ground.
From 47 without loss in five overs the Combined side slummed to 94-7 before leg-spinner Budram (3-14) mopped up the tail after left-arm spinner Ivor Trotz, who bowled with nice flight had 2-16 and Troy Benn (the man with golden arm took 2-14).
The final between Headquarters and Officers is scheduled for 13:00 hours on Friday at Eve Leary.