THANKS to a fine 98 from Kawson Joseph who was later named Man-of-the-Match, Demerara A defeated Berbice by 94 runs to capture the first leg of the Guyana Softball League/Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc/National Sports Commission/Essequibo Softball Cricket League and Berbice Softball Alliance Inter-County T20 softball tournament at the Everest Cricket Club ground last Sunday.The eventual champions, who were being sponsored by Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, finished the first leg with four points after they overcame their ‘B’ team counterparts by one wicket in their semifinal encounter, while Berbice defeated Essequibo, thus setting up the final.

Joseph slammed one four and 14 sixes for his team who posted a challenging 278 before being bowled out in their 20 overs, after they decided to bat first, with skipper Chien Gittens stroking an unbeaten half-century that was decorated with five sixes and one four.
Safraz Esau also contributed 32 and Sachin Singh 31 to the Demerara ‘A’ total, even as Bishram Deolall snared 3-38 and Devindra Thakurdeen 2-33 for the Berbicians who in their reply, threatened briefly, but failed to cross the final hurdle, as they were bowled out for 184 in 16.2 overs.
Pooran Debidyal hit an unbeaten 33 (6×4) while Steven DeFreitas contributed 32 (3×4, 2×6) and Delbert Hicks 24 (2×4, 2×6) for the team from the Ancient County, against the bowling of Martin Dutchin who grabbed 4-32 and Richard Latiff who took two wickets.
In the semifinals, Demerara ‘B’ who are being sponsored by Wolf’s Furniture Store, batted first and scored 163 all out in 18.5 overs, led by 28 from Amrit Rai, while Vishnu Thamnechandra (18), Amir Nizamudin (17) and Safraz Karim (16) all chipped in.
Gittens snared 3-17 and Mohamed Rafeek 3-25 for Demerara ‘A’ who responded with 168-9 in 19.1 overs, thanks to 41 from Latiff who got support from Ricky Sargeant with 24 not out, while Navin Singh and Joseph chipped in with 12 each as Nizamudin claimed 3-28, Mark Harold 2-19 and Leo Singh 2-29.
Berbice ended the first leg with two points after defeating Essequibo by four wickets in their semi-final game, with Essequibo scoring 197-9 in 20 overs batting first, thanks to Latchman Rohit who top-scored with 81, Patrick Rooplall (49) and Greg Singh 40.
Thakurdeen and Darshan Challitar took three wickets each for Berbice, who in reply scored 199 for 6 from 18.2 overs, thanks to 68 from DeFreitas and 64 from Thakurdeen 64, as Wazir Hossain and Yodhan Sooklall had one wicket each.
The second leg will be played in Berbice, while Essequibo will host the third leg, on dates to be announced, even as the competition is still open, since the teams with the most points after the three legs will advance to the grand finale which will be held in Demerara later this year.
For their efforts, Demerara ‘A’ took home a trophy and $50 000 and Berbice received a trophy and $25 000, with all trophies for the first leg being sponsored by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market and Hadi’s Mall Inc.
Meanwhile, GSCL thumped West Demerara by 32 runs in the Masters game, with GSCL Masters taking first strike and posting 165-9 in 20 overs, led by Eric Thomas 28 and Rudolph Baker 18, while West Demerara Masters responded with 133-6, with Randolph Perreira topscoring with 40, even as Clyde Butts claimed 2-5 and Rahaman Khan took 2-24.