Ifill’s all-round brilliance leads Regal Masters to title
GCB/Tropical Springs Water O-40 T20 tournament…
By Brandon Corlette
The fitter team prevailed in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Tropical Spring Water Over-40 T20 tournament and it was the Regal Masters who defeated the West Demerara Masters by seven wickets in the grand finale at the crowded Everest Cricket Ground.
The championship team Regal Masters pose with GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie (far right)
Anthony Ifill was the star of the show with a hard fought 36 after he claimed 2-11 to halt the West Demerara Masters. Regal ended on 120-3 in 16.5 overs, after the West Demerara team posted 119-8 in their alloted 20 overs.
Earlier, the umpires made their way out at 13:38 hours for the start of play and after a few minutes, the match got underway. It is unclear why the match did not start a bit earlier since the ground looked in better condition in contrast yesterday’s semi-final in the afternoon, when one team claimed the ground was unfit and unsafe to play.
Ifill and his team mates celebrating a wicket (Brandon Corlette photos)
West Demerara Masters openers Ganesh Persaud and Ramesh Thakur had a solid start, scoring 53 runs in 9.4 overs. Thakur was the first dismissed via the run-out route for a run-a-ball 27, including one six. One-run later, Persaud was trapped in front by David Dick for 24, which included two fours as West Demerara Masters were restricted to 54-2.
At 56-2 after 10.4 overs the rain intervened at 14:27 hours. The umpires went out at 14:43 hours and the players made their way onto the field three minutes after with the no reduction of overs in the game. The burly Elroy Fernandes and Chabraj Ramcharan added 31 runs for the third wicket partnership but Anthony Ifill and Eon Abel opened the floodgates with some quick wickets.
West Demerara Masters slumped to 90-6 in 16.2 overs after they were 85-3 looking to set a daunting total. The steaming right-arm speedster, Ifill sent Fernandes stumps rolling for 13 while Ramcharan top-scored with 29, including two sixes.
Ifill was the best bowler ons show with his 2-11 in three overs, including one maiden while Abel had similar figures of 2-11 as the Regal boys restricted the West Demerara-based team to 119-8 in their alloted 20 overs.
A balzing 60-run opening partnership between Ifill and Chien Gittens set the tone early for the Regal Masters. It was until the end of the seventh over when West Demerara Masters tasted success, removing Gittens for a shot-filled 35, decorated with three fours and one six.
One run later, Roy Persaud was sent packing for a duck at 61-2 in 7.3 overs. The West Demeara Masters dropped a few catches but Ifill struggling with a hamstring, stuck around for the Regal team. His innings of 36 came to an end with the score on 95-3 but the game was already in Regal’s pockets. Fiaz Mohammed’s unbeaten 26 and David Dick’s 17 ensured Regal ended with the championship win after 16.5 overs.
