Speedboat powers past Boots for back to back titles

GFSCA/ Guyana Softball Cup VII…

– Defending champions, Floodlights win again

Speedboat XI pulled off a brazen heist on Sunday night as they clinched the Open Category title after beating Boots All-Stars by 4-runs in the finals of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association’s (GFSCA) Guyana Cup 7.

Played in front a huge crowd at the Demerara Cricket Club Ground (DCC) under lights, the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) celebrated their seventh edition of the event with much success and support from a large number of teams; both local and international.
What started off with 14 teams on Friday, ended with the two finalists; one a seasoned unit the other the tournament dark horse, battling for bragging rights and spoils.
Led by a fine spell from MVP awardee Mark Harold who snatched 4-22 from his 4 overs, Speedboat kept their opponents to 124-9 in their 20 overs in pursuit of their 128 run target.

Not much was done by the All-Stars batters with the exception of Ejaz Mohamed who hit a single four in his top-score of 27 which stood out compared to the scores of his teammates.
Support from Christopher Seenarine who chipped in with 22; also failed to change the complexion of the game as Harold and Greg Singh (2-13) strangled the rest of the batting order.
Earlier, it looked like Speedboat were about to sink after they were shot down for 128 in 17.1 overs with only Vickash Dhaniram flexing his muscles by smoking two fours and two sixes in his score of 27; which was the only significant innings for his team.
Boots All-Stars were sloppy in the field as their bowlers leaked 30 extras to help boost Speedboat’s pitiful total. Despite their flaws, C. Ramdhani (3-31), Y. Sooklall (2-7) and R. Persaud (2-34); had good returns.
After coming back to successfully defend a low score Speedboat for their massive effort, sped away with the winning trophy as well as the $800,000 grand prize check to be the first Open team in the tournament’s history to win back to back titles.

Defending champions, Floodlights win again

Veteran batsman Unis Yusuf for yet another year ensured that the Floodlights Masters kept their title after crushing longtime rivals Regal Masters by 9 wickets in the final of Sunday’s Guyana Softball Cup 7.
Played under lights, in front a usual sold out crowd at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground, the season opener stroked six fours and a pair of sixes in his unbeaten knock of 61 as Floodlights Masters shot to 102-1 in 12.3 overs; chasing Regal’s paltry 101-9.
Batting first, Regal suffered early blows when both Mahase Chunilall and Mahendra Hardyal were bowled and run out for respective ducks and never recovered.
At the end of the second over, it had become a nightmare for Regal who were further reduced to 4-3 due to a mix up between Captain and top-scorer Mahendra Arjune (30) and David Harper who was sadly run out for nought.
Eon Abel resisted with 18 and shared a resurgent 4th wicket partnership of 45 with Arjune. However, when the Captain was stumped it was a decent attempt by Raymond Harper (15) and Eric Thomas (11) who saw their team to the end of their 20 overs.
Chasing a meager target, Floodlights Masters’ only blemish was the departure of their other opener Ravi Lutchman (05) but it was Yusuf and Ramesh Narine (12*) who saw their team effortlessly to their target and a repeat of the Masters’ title.
The Floodlights Masters then received their first place check of $600,000 while Yusuf was named Man of the Match.