After months of planning and build up, the inaugural Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup bowls off today at five venues across Georgetown.
On Thursday evening at the GNIC Sports Club ground on Woolford avenue, Banks DIH and tournament organizers the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. hosted a welcome reception for the 16 participating teams and match officials that came from Canada, Florida and New York to rub shoulders with the best local players.
President of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Ian John receives the tournament trophies from the Banks DIH representative at the GNIC Sports Club ground in the presence of the teams’ captains
The three-day tournament which promises to be nothing short of excitement and competition will have 12 teams in the All-Star category and six Masters teams going head to head to see who will be left standing when the finals come off on Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
At the grand finale, the lighted stumps and the zing bails will be used which will to add to the occasion that will also see the dancing girls strutting their stuff to the sounds of the Caribbean Hot Shots band. After an inspection of the venues, the organizers are confident that lots of runs will be scored on the well prepared tracks and fast outfields. The Police Sports Club ground at Eve Leary, YMCA and Malteenoes Cricket Club ground on Thomas Lands, Demerara Cricket Club ground in Queenstown and Everest are the battle grounds where the fireworks will go off from 09:00h this morning.
Teams in action are;
All-Stars: Dutch 4 Warriors, Success All Stars, Regal All Stars, Spartans All Stars, Queens Cricket League All Stars, Spartans, Hill Foot Warriors, Speed Boat, SVC All Stars, De Hoop All Stars, Ross Kill All Stars, Boots All Stars and Farm XI.
Masters: Regal Masters, Amazon Warriors, NY Hustlers, Enterprise Masters, HS Masters and Tropical Springs.
Teams were not required to pay entrance fees and have lots to win. In the All-Star category, the winning team will get $600,000, a trophy and medals while the losing finalist will pocket $100,000, a trophy and medals. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will ride away with a Hero motorcycle while in the Masters category the champions will get $500,000, a trophy and medals and $100,000 will go to the second placed team. The MVP will get a 55-inch television set compliments of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre.
The tournament sponsors will have lots of novelties and other giveaways for spectators across the venues including the finals. Admission is free to all venues. The competition is being sponsored by Banks DIH, Hero Motorcycles, Regal Stationery and Computer, Regal Sports, C. Mohan General Contracting Inc., Crown Mining Supplies, Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Ink Plus, Industrial Supplies and Services, P and P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd, Starr Party Rentals, Pyeo General Store, Clear Waters, Chung’s Global Enterprise, Gafson’s Industries Ltd., WJ Enterprise, Lucky Star, Ryan and Reuben General Store of Bartica, Massy industries, Guysons Engineering, Dino Enterprise of Bartica, Scott Service Station of Bartica, Swiss Machinery Establishment, Fly Jamaica Airways, Express International, Office of the Prime Minister and Jap Restoration Inc of New York.
