Regal Masters clash with West Demerara Masters in today’s final

GCB/Tropical Springs Water O-40 T20 tournament…

– Jai Hind Jaguars protest result of game against Regal Masters

Story and Photos by Brandon Corlette

The second semi-final match in the Guyana Cricket Board /Tropical Springs Water Over-40 T20I tournament, contested between Regal Masters and Jai Hind Jaguars at the Everest Cricket Club ground, has been one of the most melodramatic events ever. The Regal Masters were eventually awarded the win after the Jai Hind Jaguars refused to continue the game.

A dispute came about when the rain intervened with Regal Masters on 45-3 in pursuit of a winning total of 98. At 16:20 hours, a 20-minute delay was further extended when Jai Hind Jaguars claimed the Everest ground was in unfit condition for play to resume. The revised target was then set at 80 from 15 overs, and further reduction saw the target revised to eight overs, then Regal requiring four runs from 4.1 overs.

During this time of melodrama at the Everest ground, the Jai Hind Jaguars
attempted to bowl but found themselves slipping and sliding. While that was occurring, the Regal Masters were unhappy with Jai Hind Jaguars’ refusal to play. Eventually, the match officials took a stand and awarded the game to Regal Masters, who will oppose the West Demerara Masters in the grand finale.
Earlier, the Jaguars were asked to bat first, and the Regal Masters, making early inroads into their rivals’ innings, reduced the Berbice-based team to 11-5 in 3.5 overs.
The brisk right-arm speedster Chien Gittens sent both Jai Hind openers, Imran Hussain and Subramani Mangali, back to the pavilion for ducks. Then the wickets of Kemraj Sumair (01) Zahir Moakan (06) and Deoprakash Ramdat (02) fell in quick succession before the left-handed Veerapen Moonsammy attempted to hold things together by taking advantage of the loose balls and respecting the good balls.

Ever-consistent, the big-hitter Anil Beharry, who came to the crease with the Jaguars at 35-6, added 46 runs with Moonsammy before the seventh wicket fell. Fresh from a purple patch in which he scored 61 and 29 runs in his last two outings, Beharry continued from where he had left off, scoring a shot-filled 21 that included two fours and one six over long-on.

Moonsammy eventually top-scorer with 38, which included three sixes, two of which came off successive deliveries from David Dick.
Jai Hind’s number 11, Rafeik Kassim, stroked a crisp cut shot for four, and ended his innings with 10 runs. He was only the third Jai Hind player to reach double figures.
Bowling for the Regal Masters, Gittens returned figures of 4 for 8 from three overs, while David Dick and Eon Abel each took a wicket. Andre Percival was economical with his off-spin, returning figures of three overs for nine runs, as Jai Hind were bowled out for 97 in exactly 20 overs.
In their turn at the crease, Regal Masters scored freely, and after 3.5 overs, they were 43-2 when rain halted play. Things went downhill for the Jaguars, and Rafeik Kassim even bowled an eventful 15-run over which included two no-balls. The game mercifully came to a premature end with Regal Masters being awarded the win.

After the match, Regal captain David Dick noted that the umpires had made the right decision in awarding Regal the game, especially since Jai Hind had exhibited a spirit that was bad for the game.
The Jai Hind captain was, however, clearly dissatisfied with the state of the ground and obviously displeased with the umpires’ ruling.
Meanwhile, in the first semi-final, which was a rain-affected contest between the West Demerara teams, the Masters took a five-wicket win against their counterparts, West Demerara Mavericks.
Batting first, Mavericks posted 67-8 in their allotted 15 overs, with Munishwar Balgobin top-scoring with 24 and Sohan Beoasi chipping in with 20. Rain stopped play with the Mavericks at 33-2 after 7.1 overs, and the bowling team took the momentum when play resumed. Chabiraj Ramcharan claimed 3-8 in three overs, while Ramesh Thakur bagged 2-12.
In pursuit of 68, the Masters were tottering at 36-5 before an unbroken 32-run partnership between Sudesh Persaud (21) and Patrick Khan (11) propelled them to 68-5 in 12.4 overs.
Ravendra Ramdehol and Lalta Suknanan returned respective figures of 2 for 3 and 2 for 18 in their allotted three overs, but that proved insufficient to stop the Masters from reaching the grand finale, which is set for play today from 12:00h at the Everest ground. However, unfavourable weather would cause this match to be played at the Enmore ground on the ECD.