EON Rodrigues led with bat and ball as TSU beat Region 4A by 24 runs on the DLS System, chasing a revised target of 83 in 10 overs in a rain-affected Commissioner of Police (COP) T20 third-place play-off game on Friday at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.
TSU were dismissed for 124 in 18 overs in bright sunshine on a soggy outfield, especially towards the boundary edges.
Rain resulted in a stoppage at 11:15 hours, and when play resumed at 12:30 hours, the overs were reduced to 10.
Collis Burnette (14) and Rodrigues carried the score to 23 before Collis departed.
Alex Burnette (15) and Rodrigues posted the 50 in six overs.
Rodrigues deposited O’Neil Calder for four sixes, but Calder had the last laugh when he removed Rodrigues at 62-2.
Rodrigues’ demise triggered a collapse as six wickets tumbled for 39 runs.
Vibert Johnson struck two sixes in an unbeaten 22, and along with Herby Crandon (13) offered some resistance before Crandon was LBW to Troy Drakes at 124-8.
Drakes captured two more wickets in his second over as the last two batters made ducks, with the last three wickets falling at 124.
Drakes (3-6), Chemroy Kendal (3-14) and Orin Venture (2-28) were the main wicket-takers for Region 4A, who began their reply in overcast conditions.
Urged on by a large crowd which included a large number of ‘trainees’ from the Police Training School, Drakes returned with the bat to hit two fours and a six in a cameo 17.
Undefeated on 11, Shamar Holder was the only batter to reach double figures.
Vibert Johnson produced a double-wicket maiden in his second over and finished with 2-2, while Rodrigues had a good day at the office, taking 2-8.
With dark, angry clouds ominously hovering over the Police Sports Club ground, the Officers won the toss and invited the two-time defending champions, Headquarters, to bat.
With Linden Wilson and Linden Matthews doing live commentary at the ground, the umpires made their way to the ‘middle’, before a heavy downpour sent them scurrying off the field and covers being hastily brought on.
As it rained, ‘cats and dogs’, some of the Headquarters players played tape ball cricket in the rain, while the large turnout was entertained by music by ZWIT Sounds System and impromptu singing from former Berbice Police left-hander Rocky Hutson.
With National elections scheduled for September 1 and the Military Forces set to ‘go in line’, the final could be replayed after the elections.