Abel blasts Regal Masters to Malone birthday cup title
The most decorated masters softball team in the country, Regal Masters added more silverware to their collection when they won the Ramo Malone birthday trophy on Sunday, April 15.
Regal Masters played unbeaten to win the title
In the final of the six-team one-day tournament played at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground in Queenstown, Georgetown, Regal Masters beat Wellman by 30 runs after some powerful hitting from their top-order batsmen.
Regal Masters took first strike and got to 145-8 from their allotted 15 overs, with Eon Abel striking six fours in his 34 at the top of the order that set up the winning total. He was supported by a Throy Kippins cameo of 33 (6x4s) and a flamboyant 21 (2×4; 1×6) from Rudolph Baker. All of the Wellman bowlers were roughed up, but Latchman Kallicharran with 2 for 24 and Greg DeFranca with 1 for 24 were the most successful.
Wellman, who beat Albion Masters in their semi-final, had a crack at the target and the title, but were turned back by some good bowling from the eventual champions. Saheed Mohamed picked up 2 for 16 from his three overs and was supported by Mahendra Hardyal (1-13); Kippins (1-23) and Parsram Persaud (1-19) to restrict Wellman to 115 for 5 from their 15 overs. Only Lloyd Ruplall with 41 (3×4; 2×6) and Eon Lovell 21 (1×4; 2×6) showed any fight to the good bowling in good conditions for softball cricket.
On their way to the final, Regal Masters beat Fishermen Masters by the wide margin of 58 runs in their semi-final. In their turn at the crease, Regal Masters tallied 131 for 6 from their 15 overs with Mahesh Chunilall hitting the top score of 36 (2×4; 2×6) while Baker with 25 not out (3×6) and Mohendra Arjune 21 (4×4) supported nicely to put up the winning total.
For the Fishermen, Unis Yusuf snared 2 for 16 from his three overs before coming back with the bat to top score with 29 (2×4; 3×6) in the run chase. In the end, it was Regal Master’s bowling that came to the party. Kippins led with 4 for 16 with support from Laurie Singh (3 for 12) and Saheed Mohamed (1 for 8).
The other teams that were part of the day’s action were Savage Masters and Ariel Masters, who were knocked out at the preliminary stage of the competition.
