Zeeburg deny Rising Stars chance at title

Amerith Rai (Rocky) Memorial T20 Tournament…

Action in the Amerith Rai (Rockey) Memorial T20 Tournament culminated at the Meten-Meer-Zorg cricket ground on the West Side with Zeeburg Sports Club battling Rising Stars in the grand finale played on May 1.

Popular prediction was that the team batting second would definitely go on to win the tournament, thus Rising Stars won the toss and elected to bowl in slightly breezy but overcast conditions.
Opening the batting for Zeeburg were the in-form pair of Yutesh Dhanpaul and Balbinder Shivpersaud, who ‘got the ball rolling’ by playing safely within the ‘powerplay’ overs. They were, however, unable to carry on, and fell victim to Keon Roberts and Shane Persaud for 15 and 14 respectively.
It was then up to Malcolm Hubbard and Richardo Poloram to rebuild the innings after their team had lost two quick wickets. These two batsmen, playing their natural game, gradually took Zeeburg past the 50-run mark; but the partnership was eventually broken when Hubbard fell for 22 off the bowling of Persaud.
Poloram attempted to carry on, but with pressure mounting from his not receiving any support, Poloram was eventually bowled by Shaquille Brisport for 39, as he tried to accelerate the scoring.
With wickets continuing to fall, Cornelius Jaisingh walked to the crease and blasted a quick-fire 32 to save Zeeburg further blushes, their being bowled out for 154 in 18.3 overs.
Bowling for Rising Stars, Persaud recorded 4-26 and Brisport 3-32.
Needing 155 for victory off their allotted 20 overs, the Rising Stars found the going tough, with Zeeburg also planning to lift the championship trophy.
The combined efforts of Zeeburg’s Malcolm Hubbard and Travis Drakes defeated the best efforts of the Rising Stars batting lineup, none of whose batsmen was able to make a substantial contribution, as they folded for 90 in 14.1 overs to hand Zeeburg the title.
Hubbard ended with 4-24, Travis Drakes with 3-9, while Dhanpaul, Jeffers and Kingston supported with 1 wicket each.
Shivpersaud was named ‘best batsman of the tournament’ for scoring 248 runs in 7 innings; while Hubbard was adjudicated ‘man of the match’ in the finals for his 4-24. Marvin Cheong of Rising Stars picked up the ‘best bowler of the tournament’ award for bagging 15 wickets.
Zeeburg Sports Club won the $200,000 top prize and the winner’s trophy, while Rising Stars pocketed $100,000 and the runners-up trophy.
The event was sponsored by FAB mining company.