LED by a rearguard fightback from their lower-order, Speedboat/Ariel recovered from a precarious position of 84 for seven in the 12th over to post 208 for nine in the allotted 20 which eventually proved to be a winning total versus Regal All Stars when the two teams clashed in the block-buster Open All Class final in the ninth edition of the Prime Minister T20 Softball Cup.
When fading light forced the umpires to call a halt to proceedings, Regal All Stars were 147 for seven in 16.1 overs, behind by 24 runs when the Duckworth/Lewis system was applied in the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL)-organised tournament which had the blessings of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Played at the Police Sports Club ground on Sunday, Speedboat/Ariel were inserted by their opponents and the decision by Regal seemed justifiable with Rohit “Beast” Dutchin making early inroads with three telling blows.
However, Ameer Mohamed, who batted at number eight revived the innings with a splendid batting performance, anchoring the lower-order in the process.
Mohamed, who struck one four and six sixes in his unbeaten 51, shared a 58-run eighth-wicket partnership with Shazim Hussein who contributed 14. He also added a further 49 with number 10, Arjune, who smashed a four and three sixes in his 25 as Regal bowlers wilted under the pressure. Dutchin ended with three for 13.
Despite fluent knocks of 43 from skipper Greg Singh, who struck two fours and four sixes and 26 from opener Sachin Singh (four fours), Regal were never up to the task, Ousman was the pick of the bowlers with three for 30.
The winning Speedboat/Ariel combination took home a whopping $800,000 and the winners’ trophy, while runners-up Regal took home $200,000 and a trophy. The Most Valuable Player (MVP), Sachin Singh of Regal, who tallied 364 runs despite missing one game, was rewarded with a washing machine. He also received a floor model water dispenser for the player scoring the most runs. The bowler claiming the most wickets, Murph Seeram, also of Regal, got a microwave, all compliments of Regal Stationery & Computer Centre.
The trophies for all four categories – Women, Open All Class, Masters Over-40 and Legends Over-50 were donated by Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall. (Frederick Halley)
