Gobin Persaud Memorial T20 Cup 2022: Beckles powers Independence Sports Club to big win

A magnificent half-century from opener Vivian Beckles, scored in conditions of threatening clouds, gave Independence Sports Club (ISC) the first hold of the Gobin Persaud Memorial Twenty/20 Cup when the curtains came down on play last Sunday at the Canal Number Two Sports Club Ground, West Bank Demerara — a small ground with a fast outfield.

Watched by a fair-sized crowd enveloped in a festive atmosphere, Beckles smashed five massive sixes and stroked two fours to lead ISC to a commanding 60-run win over Belle Vue Sports Club.
His match-winning knock of 61 from 48 balls was responsible for ISC getting to 174 for 8, before they limited the pre-tournament favourites Belle Vue SC to just 114 for 9 from their 20 overs.
Beckles lost his opening partner Javon Hector (11) inside the power play at 22 for 1 in the 5th over, then got excellent support from Mahendra Dhanpaul, who scored a quick-fire 24 (16b: 3x6s) as the pair put on 61 for the second wicket. When Dhanpaul was dismissed in the 11th over, Beckles soon followed, making way for some entertaining cameos to take the total out of the reach of the opposition.
Safraz Esau stroked 32 (20b: 3x6s) and Ricky Sargeant thumped 29 (12b: 4x6s) in a performance that caused the crowd to erupt in spontaneous jubilation.
None of the Belle Vue bowlers was spared, but returning figures of 3/21 from three overs made Lucian Sam the most successful Belle Vue bowler, while captain Randy Ramrup’s 2/36 from 4 overs and Rondel Wills’s 2/45 from 4 overs offered support.
In their turn at the crease, Belle Vue lost wickets at regular intervals before the game ended in fading light. Only number seven batter Alex Parag, with an attacking 38 (16b: 2x4s; 4x6s), offered any resistance.
For the Independence Sports Club, Reaz Esau was the pick of the bowlers with 3/26, while Celvon Williams claimed 2/4 and captain Anand Bharat claimed 2/15.
‘Player of the Match’ was Vivian Beckles, who scored 115 runs in the four matches he played, and was also named ‘Batsman of the Tournament’. He collected a trophy and a bat for his efforts, while left-arm spinner Anand Persaud of Canal Number Two Sports Club collected a trophy and a pair of sneakers for being adjudged ‘Bowler of the Tournament’, in which he picked up nine wickets in three matches.
Belle Vue walked away with the Runners-Up Trophy and $50,000, while the champions ISC went away smiling with the winning trophy and $150,000. All players and match officials were given medals to mark the occasion, which is a special occasion for the Persaud family and the entire Canal Number Two community.
Gobin Persaud, in whose memory the tournament was played, died on May 6, 2021 at the age of 85 years old. He was one of the founder members of the Cultural Cricket Club, and later became captain and then president of the club. Off the field, Persaud was a former Headmaster at Endeavour Primary School and Commons Primary School, former secretary of Vidya Daan Mandir, and, overall, a very prominent member of Canal Number Two Polder.
The tournament was sponsored by Star Sports, ND&S Furniture Store, SP General Construction and Raja Custom Brokerage Service, and Banks DIH Limited. (John Ramsingh)