Regal Masters and Regal All-Stars both obtained the maximum 12 points on the opening day of the 14th annual Florida Cup at the Brian Piccolo Park in Fort Lauderdale Florida on Friday.
Regal Masters celebrate early success against Florida/Guyana Hope on Friday in Florida
After getting an easy six points from a walkover from Orlando Premier League Masters in the morning, Regal Masters took to the field and made light work of Florida/Guyana Hope by nine wickets in their afternoon fixture.
After opting to bat first, Florida/Guyana Hope were limited to 97 all out from 19 overs. Only opener Jay Mahadeo looked threatening with 25 (3×4; 1×6) as all the Regal Masters had good returns but it were Captain Throy Kippins (3-13) and Vice-Captain Mahendra Hardyal (3-28) who were the pick of the pack.
Eion Abel and Mahesh Chunilall then rushed to 98/1 after Hardyal was removed early for eight, Able finished with 43 not out (1×4; 4×6) and Chunilall 35 not out (3×4; 2×6) to give Regal maximum points and a place in the semifinal. Amazon Cricket Club also got 12 points and will also qualify with Regal Masters from Group A as the only other team in the group, Florida/Guyana Hope have lost both of their matches. Amazon CC and Regal will play today from 09:30h to see who will finish higher in the group for the semifinals this afternoon.
In group B, defending champions Floodlights, Floodlights Legends and Orlando Masters all had one win up to press time and a keen rush is on for semifinal places after Expendables who suffered two defeats will be eliminated.
In the All-Star category, Regal All-Stars booked their final four spot with two convincing wins as well. The pre-tournament favourites first disposed of South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) by nine wickets before whipping the Hurricanes by six wickets.
During both games their bowlers produced excellent performances upfront before their batsmen did the final touches.
In game one, Roohit Dutchin figures of 4-3, kept the SFSCL scoring under control from the start. None of the hosts batsmen were allowed to dominate, and were eventually bowled out for 48 in 16 overs.
Seewchand Budhu (3-8), Ameer Nizamudin (2-7), and Richard Latif (1-17), were the other successful bowlers for Regal All-Stars.
In reply, the visitors lost Latif without scoring in the innings first over, but Navin Singh and Budhu took 14 balls to achieve the winning target.
Singh remained unbeaten on 26 off eight balls (2×4, 2×6), while Budhu six-ball innings, inclusive of three fours and a six.
In game two, asked to bat first, Hurricanes total was built around Marvin Sukhnandan, who stroked a fighting 59, after they were restricted to 46-5 at one point of the innings.
Sukhnandan smashed seven fours and two sixes, and was the only batsman to put up some resistance against a well-balanced Regal All-Stars bowling unit.
Dutchin was again the chief wrecker, claiming 3-5. Nizamudin (2-32), Latif (2-26), and Budhu (1-23), were the other bowlers made the impact with the ball.
In the run chase, Latif again failed to trouble the scorers, but Singh and Budhu then added 59 for the second-wicket before the latter was dismissed for 36.
Singh then added 28 for the third-wicket, with Patrick Rooplall, and in the process took the visitors within close reach of the winning target.
However, Regal All-Stars then lost Dutchin, but Singh stayed to the end in company of Safraz Esan, and took the visitors to 117-4 in 15.2 overs. Singh remained unbeaten on 50, with six fours.
The three-day tournament continues today with the final preliminary round of matches in both categories followed by the semi-finals this afternoon.
The finals for both categories will take place tomorrow at the Central Broward Regional Park and Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida.
