By Frederick Halley

A BRILLIANT boundary-studded 111 from skipper Uniss Yusuf spurred Regal Legends Over-50 team to a massive 114-run victory over Fisherman Legends when the inaugural Unification Cup three-day tournament, organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL), in conjunction with title sponsors Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, climaxed at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda on Sunday.
The win earned the winners a whopping one million dollars and the Trophy Stall sponsored trophy while the runners-up had to settle for $200,000 and a trophy.
The mercurial Yusuf, who, by his standard, was having an indifferent tournament with the bat, found his groove in the final and in the process tore the Fisherman Legends attack apart in a brutal display of ferocious power hitting.

The pugnacious right-hander set the tone from the onset, smashing the first delivery of the match for a huge six and, a clear sign of what was in store after he won the toss and opted to take first strike.
Yusuf added 108 for the second wicket with former Guyana Under-19 player Troy Gobin (21), who was content on playing second fiddle to his captain.

By the time Yusuf departed at 143 for three in 11th over, after smashing 10 fours and an equal number of sixes, Regal Legends were well on their way to an insurmountable total.
Roy Persaud, with a quickfire undefeated 46, which contained four fours and three sixes and Lloyd Rupall, who struck one four and five sixes in 35 added further impetus with a 62-run fifth wicket partnership as the Fisherman attack wilted under the immense pressure with Regal Legends reached an imposing 232 for six in the allotted 20 overs.
Andrew Chatteroon finished with three for 49.
Fisherman Legends, who created a stir in Saturday’s semi-final with an upset last ball victory over the then unbeaten Parika Defenders, were never up to the task, losing wickets at regular intervals as they bowled out for a paltry 118 in their 20 overs.
Dennis Mangroo hit a top score of 20 while Chattergoon was unbeaten on 19. Stanley Mohabir claimed two for 15, Richard Driffield two for 23 and Yusuf two for 30.
Yusuf took home the player of the match award and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize of the category – a Toyota Vitz car, unprecedented in the history of softball in Guyana.
Apart from Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, the other main sponsors on board included Ramesh Sunich’s Trophy Stall which donated all the trophies, General Marine, Price Shopper Variety, Chung’s Global, ARD Youtuber (Danny Persaud), Crown Mining Supplies, Ansy and Amrit Furniture Store, INS Trading, Lakhram Singh Contracting Services, Rajiv Gandhi University, Blue Spring Water, Ofimak Office & Furnishings (Panama) and HL Latino America (Panama).