Another exciting day of softball cricket ended in almost darkness but in bright sprits for Regal All-stars and Regal Masters who were crowned champions of their respective categories on Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club Ground in the KPL fundraiser.
The formidable Regal All-Stars unit easily overcame Mike’s All-Stars by 46 runs while the Masters’ teams played a competitive final much to the delight of the large number of spectators.
In the masters’ final, Regal took first strike and posted 134 all out from 14.5 overs. Raymond Harper and Eric Thomas added 31 for the third wicket after they were reduced to 27-2 with Mahase Chunilall and Eion Abel sent back early. Thomas hit a towering six and was looking to repeat the shot when he was caught at cover off the leading edge for 11 while Harper made 19.
Regal were rescued by Mahendra Arjune who got off the mark with a six and struck four more for good measure in a top score of 33 while David Harper made 15 and Rudolph Baker 14. Sheldon Perch snared 3-22 and the lively Latchman Kallicharran 2-16.
Pint sized change up bowler, Laurie Singh picked up three early wickets as Mike’s Wellman found themselves in some trouble at 27-3, but Lloyd Rooplall and Wayne Jones resurrected the chase with a fourth wicket stand of 42 before Jones was taken off Ricky Persaud for seven. However Kallicharran continued to play his shots and along with Perch kept their team in the hunt before Persaud uprooted the stumps of Perch for 26. Regal bowlers maintained a steady line and as Mike’s Wellman were bowled out for 125 in 14.5 overs falling short by nine runs. Rooplall hit three fours and four sixes in scoring 41 as Persaud finished with 3-18, Singh 3-29 and David Harper 2-20; Harper was named Man-of-the-Match.
Fazleem Mohamed
On their way to the final, Regal Masters got the better of Parika-Amazon by 62 runs in their semifinal. Regal Masters took first turn at the crease and scored 180-4. Fazleem Mohamed making an unbeaten 52 (3×4; 5×6), Thomas 41 (3×4; 4×6) and Baker 37 not out (2×4; 4×6) with K. Persaud picking up two wickets.
Parika- Amazon responded with 118-5 as B. Singh got to 43 while Mahendra Arjune captured 2-23.
Mike’s Wellman beat Savage Masters by the narrow margin of four runs in their semifinal. Mike’s Wellman made 109 all out, batting first with Jones scoring 32 and Nandram Samall 21. Savage got to 105-8 in reply with K. Luke making 28 and T. Ramsaywack 20 as the consistent Motilall Chumandatt grabbed 3-14.
Lloyd Rooplall
In the Open final, Roohit Dutchin hit 38 and Safraz Esau 32 to help Regal All-Stars post 127-7 off their allotted 10 overs taking first strike against the supreme ball. Following the demise of opener Navin Singh (02) with the score on three, Esau added 52 for the second wicket with Vishnu Tannechandra stabilizing the innings. Regal All-Stars then lost Wazir Husain (00) and Tannechandra for 19, but Dutchin beefed up the innings hitting five fours and one six while Greg Singh captured 3-24. In reply, Mike’s All-Stars were reduced to 10-3 before Chien Gittens struck 31 and W. Edwards 22, but their efforts were not enough as their team finished on 81-4. Timure Mohamed picked up two wickets, while Privnauth Motilall and Kelvin Orford had one each. Dutchin was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match.
Regal All-Stars beat De Hoop by 7
The successful Regal All-Stars and Masters teams are jubilant after sweeping another tournament
0 runs in their semifinal. Regal All-Stars rattled up 160-3 with Esau stroking one four and seven sixes in a top score of 54 while Navin Singh scored 41, Roohit Dutchin 24, Marvin Bobb 20 and Wazir Hussain 16. In reply, De Hoop were restricted to 90-8 as Motilall did the damage with the ball picking up three wickets while Hussain had two.
In the other Open semifinal, Mike’s All-Stars overcame Farm XI by six wickets. Farm XI made 103-7, taking first strike. Greg Singh and Imran Hussain captured three and two wickets respectively. Mike’s All-Stars responded with 104-4 in 9.5 overs. Gittens slammed 41 and Singh 20.
The competition was played to assist Organizing Secretary of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL), Samuel Kingston in raising funds for eye surgery in Trinidad at the end of this month. The initial cost for the surgery is US$5,000 which became necessary after Kingston took a blow to his eye while playing a softball game last November at the Gandhi Youth Organization ground, Woolford Avenue.
The GSCL next event is the Republic Cup which bowls off this Friday at various venues in Georgetown. Registration is ongoing and interested teams must contact the league on 225-4802, 619-5103 or 623-2704.
