Essequibo Softball Cricket League over-40 competition roundup: SEVERAL TEAMS RECORD WINS AS COMPETITION PROGRESSES
Hibernia CCC, Queenstown, Hibernia Strikers, Caribbean Cricket Club (CCC) and Queenstown Tigers registered wins last Sunday at Hibernia ground and Affiance ground in the latest round of the 2022 Essequibo Softball Cricket League (ESCL) over-40, 20-over competition.
Hibernia Strikers defeated Devonshire Castle Sports Club by four wickets, while CCC got the better of Ravens Sports Club by 33 runs, and Queenstown Tigers roared to an exciting three-wicket win against Sunrisers Masters.
Devonshire Castle tallied up a competitive 166-9 from the 20 overs, while Hibernia Strikers surpassed the target in the 18th over. Ramkissoon Seeram led the way for the winners with an unbeaten 79, while Mohammed Sidique played a supportive role with 28.
When Devonshire Castle batted at Affiance facility, Anthony Persaud scored 76, and 28 came from Darshand Lall. Seeram proved his all-round ability by bagging three wickets for 27 runs from his four overs.
CCC set up a formidable total of 258-8 from their 20 overs, with Richard Patterson getting an impressive 67 and former senior Essequibo Inter-County player Prashad Mahadeo scoring 55 for CCC. Punraj Singh claimed 3-30 off his four overs bowling for Ravens, while Marvin Pearson took 2-44 from his 4 overs.
When Ravens appeared at the crease, seasoned campaigner Ramesh Narine struck a fine 76, while Lakmikant Narine (unrelated), another ex-Essequibo player, made 51 not out. Yaseer Mohammed grabbed 4-37 in his four overs, while Ekie Baksh assisted with 2-28 off four overs.
Sunrisers Masters’ 212-7 off 20 overs turned out to be insufficient, as Queenstown Tigers achieved the winning run in the 19th over.
Karan Ramanan hit a top-score for Queenstown Tigers with 63, while Paulo Narine made 37. Antonio Thomas and Gopal Deen snatched two wickets each.
Ravi Beharry, a former Essequibo inter-county opening batsman, slammed 69 for Sunrisers Masters while Deen chipped in with 44. Curtis Russell collected 2-24, and De Young, with two scalps as well, delivered for the Tigers.
The action will continue this Sunday with two matches at venues to be named.
Ravens Sports Club will tackle Hibernia Strikers while CCC and Sunrisers Masters will do battle.