A BRILLIANT all-round effort from the talented Rajiv Ivan, supported by superb fielding from his team mates led Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets to an easy 25-run victory over Albion in the final of the 10th edition of the RHTYSC Busta Champion of Champions tournament last Sunday.The victory meant that RHT Gizmos and Gadgets have now won the title a proud nine times with Port Mourant winning once in 2005.
Playing at the neutral venue, the Port Mourant Community Centre, RHTGG won the toss and elected to bat first after play was delayed by half-hour due to extra moisture on the pitch.
National player Delbert Hicks and Dominic Rikhi gave them a solid start by adding 46 for the first wicket before Hicks was deceived by off-spinner Daniel Lewis and was caught by Balchan Baldeo for 24 which included three boundaries.
Berbice player Jason Sinclair and Rikhi then carried the score to 57 in 18th over when Rikhi was stumped off Gudakesh Motie for 25. Sinclair, who struggled with his timing, was joined by Ivan who from his first ball looked confident.
Together they added 62 crucial runs off 14 overs, before Sinclair was bowled off the inside edge by off-spinner Sharaz Ramcharran for 26. Ivan, with support from his team mates, then carried RHTGG to 203 for 8 from their allotted 46 overs.
Ivan made a solid 80 from 74 balls with six boundaries and two massive sixes. Clinton Pestano supported with 15 while Shailendra Shameer and Keon Sinclair were unbeaten on 10 each.
Bowling for Albion, Motie ended with 2 for 37 from 9 overs while Jonathan Foo took 2 for 25 from his 9 overs. National leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo was disappointing with the ball as his 9 overs gave away 51 runs with no wicket.
Needing to score at just over 4.5 runs per over to achieve victory in front of a large and colourful crowd, Albion lost Balchan Baldeo lbw to medium pacer Clinton Pestano for 4, at 14 for 1 in the 3rd over.
Off-spinner Troy Mathieson who opened the RHTGG bowling them trapped opener Sewnarine Chattergoon for 9 to leave Albion at 14 for 2 in the 4th over. Worse was to follow for Albion as Sharaz Ramcharran was brilliantly run-out by Dominic Rikhi for 2 leaving Albion at 22 for 3 in the 6th over, before Jonathan Foo and David Latchaya played sensibly to add 61 in 17 overs to bring Albion in the game before another brilliant piece of fielding from Shailendra Shameer resulted in the run-out of Latchaya for 31 from 55 balls with a single boundary.
Bishoo and the solid-looking Foo, who curbed his natural attacking style, batted well to take Albion to 137 for 4 in the 32nd over before Foo, in a rush of blood, holed out to Keon Sinclair at long on off man-of-the-match Ivan for a well-played 70 (81 balls, 5 boundaries).
Two more brilliant pieces of fielding resulted in the run-out of Bishoo 22 and Veerapen Permaul 9 as Albion were dismissed for 179 off 44.3 overs, Troy Matheison bowled well to take 3 for 22 from 9.3 overs while the impressive Ivan took wickets for 28 runs from his 9 overs.
Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Hilbert Foster at the presentation ceremony described the 10th Busta tournament as a resounding success and stated that the edition was not only well organised but had achieved all of its objectives.
President of both the RHTYSC and the Berbice Cricket Board, Keith Foster, expressed gratitude to the Guyana Beverage Company for its continued investment in Berbice Cricket and stated that the RHTYSC Busta Cup has grown into one of the premier cricket tournament in Guyana.
Managing Director of Busta, Robert Selman, hailed the organising skills of the RHTYSC and expressed his total satisfaction on the organisation of the tournament.
Selman described the RHTYSC as a role-model organisation which has represented the Busta brand excellently. He also announced to great applause that Busta would be renewing its sponsorship for the eleventh edition in August.
He congratulated both teams for their excellent performances in the final. Troy Mathieson received supplies of Busta products for the best bowler award along with Ivan who was named best batsman and man-of-the-final. Ivan also received a trophy and $10 000.
Albion collected the runner-up trophy and the runner-up prize of $50 000 while RHTGG carried home the beautiful Busta trophy and $100 000
The final was broadcast live on NCN Radio, making it the only tournament in Guyana to receive such coverage and the organisers used the broadcast to promote the RHTYSC’s Say No to Drugs and Suicide message.