RHTYSC/Naeem Nasir Memorial Tournament 2024: RHT Bakewell claims title of 11th edition

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, clinched its 125th cricket title on Sunday since its establishment in 1992 after defeating Guymine by 10 wickets to lift the 11th edition of the RHTYSC/Naeem Nasir Memorial Tournament.
The four-team tournament was played in blazing sunshine at the Area H Ground and was witnessed by a very large and colourful crowd. The four teams that participated were Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Guymine, Rose Hall Tigers and Courtland. The drawing of lots for the match-ups in the one-day tournament was done by the four captains prior to the first match and resulted in RHT Bakewell clashing with Courtland in the first match and Rose Hall Tigers playing Guymine in the second.

RHT Bakewell batted first against Courtland after losing the toss and amassed 107 for 4 off their allotted 10 overs. Javed Karim, playing in his first match for his new club, scored a brisk 47 not out and received support from Jonathan Rampersaud (21) and Matthew Pottaya (13). Courtland, in reply, reached 88 for 7 to lose by 19 runs.
In the second game, Guymine, batting first, reached a healthy 103 for 3 versus RHT Tigers. Turbo Jagdeo claimed 2 for 18 while Joshua Ramsammy took 1 for 16. In reply, RHT Tigers fell five runs short despite a fighting 45 from 29 balls from 41-year-old former national player Delbert Hicks. Extras supported with 18 runs. Hicks struck six boundaries and one six before he fell in the last over, with 15 runs required from five balls. Joel Seetaram took 3 for 19 for Guymine.
The final was played 12 overs per side and Guymine batted first after winning the toss. They soon lost Marlon Shepherd for 1 and Charles Grimmond for 0 to be 2 for 1 in the second over, but Berbice senior player Kwesi Mickle and Joel Seetaram added 53 for the third wicket to set up proceedings before the latter was dismissed by Sheltan Ramsay for 20.

Campton Hope and Mickle then batted well until the 11th over when Hope fell for 22 (2×6, 1×4) and then Mickle for 41 (1×6, 3×4) as Guymine ended on 97 for 6 from their allotted 12 overs. Former national under-19 player Jeremy Sandia took 3 for 18 from 3 overs while Ramsay had 2 for 13.
Needing to score 98 runs from 12 overs to clinch the title, RHT Bakewell raced to 100 without loss as former national junior player Jonathan Rampersaud struck eight delightful boundaries and three massive sixes in a match winning 70 not out.
Rampersaud faced 29 balls and victory was achieved in the eighth over; skipper Ryan Kissoonlall supported with a solid unbeaten 24 with two sixes. Rampersaud won the Man-of-the-Final and best batsman awards while Sandia received the best bowler award. The champions received $100,000 and the championship trophy while the runners-up collected $50,000 and the runners-up trophy. The two other participating teams also received a financial reward.
RHTYSC Secretary Hilbert Foster, at the presentation ceremony, stated that the memory of Nasir, the founder of Bakewell, was very dear to the club as he had played a major role in the development of the club over a 12-year period prior to his death in 2012.
Nasir was the sponsor of the RHTYSC beginning in 2000.
Bakewell General Manager Rajendra Ganga praised the RHTYSC and especially Foster for keeping the memory of Nasir alive over the years. He congratulated the RHT Bakewell team for winning the tournament and urged them to continue to represent his company’s brand with pride. Six lucky spectators received special gifts as gate prizes.