By Frederick Halley

OPENER Keith Fraser belted a swashbuckling undefeated 125 to lead Ariel Masters to a lopsided 10-wicket victory over Regal Masters in the Over-40 final of the inauguration One Guyana Unification softball extravaganza, organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) in conjunction with title sponsors, Regal Stationery & Computer Centre and the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport which ended at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda on Sunday.
In one of the most ferocious hitting displays witnessed on the local softball scene in many years, the burly left-handed Berbician Fraser smashed seven fours and an incredible 12 sixes in his 45-ball knock as Ariel Masters rushed to 160 without loss in 11.2 overs in reply to Regal Masters 157 for seven made in their allotted 20 overs.
The experienced Chien Gittens, who was a mere spectator for most of the innings, supported with a well-compiled unbeaten 33 which contained four fours and a six off 23 balls as the Regal Masters bowlers wilted under the immense pressure.

Earlier, Regal Masters were given a rollicking start of 43 in the first four overs by Lennox Mark (31) and Patrick Rooplall (16) after winning the toss and opting to bat first but once the two departed in quick succession of each other, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals.
Some lusty blows in the last few overs by Lakeram Roopnarine who hit three sixes in an unbeaten 33 and Rudolph Ketwaroo, 15, with a four and six, brought some respectability to the overall score but 157 always seemed inadequate for the star-studded Ariel Masters team and so it proved.

Richard Latif, known in softball circles as “Mr Cricket,” bagged four for 21 from his four overs while there was one wicket each for Murph Seeram, Gittens and Dilchand.
The winners carted off one million dollars and a trophy while the runner-up took home $200, 000 and a trophy.
Fraser easily copped the player of the final award while Latiff, who scored an incredible 384 runs, including scores of 134 and 180 not out on Saturday and captured 12 wickets, took the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, a motorcycle. All the trophies were donated by Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall fame.
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).