By Frederick Halley
A NEW champion will be crowned in the women’s category when the third edition of the Vice-President T20 Softball Cup climaxes at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground in Queenstown.
Sunday’s final will feature Essequibo’s Invaders and Berbice’s Namebrand/Corriverton. Two of the pre-tournament favourites, defending champions Supreme Stars and recently crowned Prime Minister’s T20 Softball champions 4R Lioness were recently sent packing.
Invaders disposed of Supreme Stars in that day’s opening fixture, and continued to show that they meant business by chasing down an imposing 217 made by 4R Lioness, losing a single wicket in the process.
With an imposing 218 set for victory, after Linda Stevens (108 not out) and Cherry-Ann Fraser with an undefeated 97, 4R Lioness reached 216 without loss in the 15-over affair at the GNIC ground while Invaders achieved the target with three balls to spare.
Invaders were given a rousing start of 100 in a mere 6.4 overs by Emily Booker and Latifa Cornette (46), the latter being the lone wicket to fall in a semi-final which saw an incredible 437 runs being scored.
There was no let up as Booker, who finished on 80 not out off 37 balls, spiced with eight fours and two sixes and Kesiha Williams, who struck an undefeated 67 from 29 balls with three fours and six sixes saw their team home much to the delight of their supporters.
Earlier, Linda Stevens, with a brilliant undefeated 108 off 43 balls, which included nine fours and eight sixes and national player Cherry-Ann Fraser (97 not out), who narrowly missed a century, smashed 12 fours and five sixes as 4R Lioness reached what seemed an unbeatable score.
The other semi-final, played at the MYO ground, saw Namebrand/Corriverton winning by eight wickets against Banakari Warriors.
Set 148 for victory, after restricting their opponents to 147 for four in their allotted 15 overs, the Berbicians got to the total with four balls to spare.
Opener Rea Harris led the charge with an unbeaten 88, smashing 13 fours in the process off 52 balls.
Vianney Jundoo was the top scorer for Banakari Warriors, hitting 10 fours in 66.
Led by an unbeaten 93 from Nikasie Osbourne, Namebrand/Corriverton won from Bacchus X1 in the opening fixture, also played at MYO, after reaching 152 for 2 in 13.3 overs, chasing 151 for six made by their opponents.
Defending champions Supreme Stars were earlier stunned by Invaders in their opening game at GNIC, the latter winning in a close encounter off the penultimate ball of the last over.
Set 176 for victory, after Supreme Stars, reached 175 for six in their 15 overs, Invaders got to 176 for three in 14.5 overs.
Keisha Cornette (48) and Kumarie Persaud (43) led the way for the winners while Medecia Fredericks (47) and Marissa Roddney (46) were the top scorers for Supreme Stars.
4 R Lioness made light work of Panthers at the GYO ground, registering 161 for six and restricting a ten-man Panthers to 64 for nine in 9.3 overs.
Linda Stevens struck six fours and three sixes in 73 and returned to claim two for 22 when Panthers batted. Alicia Brummell grabbed three for 18.
The three men’s categories – Open All Stars, at Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, Masters Over-40 at DCC and Legends Over-50 at GYO, MYO and GNIC grounds respectively commence today. All the finals are set for DCC on Sunday.
