V- Net Communications and their Vipers cricket team brought the fireworks to thrill a pleasant audience in the community of Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast by earning the Champion Team title of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) Sports Club Cricket Extravaganza on Saturday.
Initially, it was meant to be a 10/10 slugfest, but overnight rain had placed a damper on the early morning proceedings, and matches were limited to eight and seven overs-a-side affairs.
Antony Adams in his follow-though with Ronsford Beaton at the non-strikers’ end
The damp areas on the pitch were soon dry for play, as former national pacer Trevor Benn orchestrated the old trick of lighting fire on the pitch to dry the patches. After application of a fresh roll of grass, it was simply non-stop action to witness for the many who turned up to catch a glimpse of some Windies and national stars from their county on show.
The final match of the day saw Vipers come against South Essequibo, who had in their arsenal Windies pacer Ronsford Beaton and former national youth opener Royan Fredericks.
Trevor Benn was back in cricket action, and certainly worked up some pace
South inserted themselves, and reached 64-4 from 7 overs. They were led by the talented David Williams, who made an 18-ball-35, inclusive of a solitary four and 4 sixes. One of those sixes cleared two houses and left the many onlookers in awe at the distance it was carried.
Benn, who seemed to still be in his prime, sent some middle stumps for a walk, to end with 2-13 from 2 overs.
It was then time for the chase, and V- Net’s boss Safraz Sheriffudeen, who through his Satellite Communication company of Delph Street, Campbellville has made significant donations to the proceedings, was certainly on edge. Calming those nerves was when he caught sight of Windies newest recruit, Keemo Paul, and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), Kevon Boodie, walking to the middle.
Just a section of the audience which was captivated by the cricket on Saturday at the Golden Fleece ground
Paul soon fell to Beaton, and it became a dicey contest until Boodie began an assault. The right-hander was at his destructive best, smashing Beaton, who was the mainstay of the attack, to the boundary as he raced to 29 (1×4; 3x6s) from 14 balls; until the Windies pacer got his man.
Picking up the bashing was Kemol Savoury with a quick-fire 22 from 13 balls, which sealed the victory in 5.5 overs with seven wickets still intact.
Earlier, Vipers had defeated Iman Bacchus XI by 32 runs, after posting 102 in 8 overs. Paul started the run-fest with a 9-ball-28 comprising four sixes and one four, while Boodie was again among the runs with a blazing 43 from 26 balls, which brought out all the dancing moves from team mascot Aiden Sheriffudeen.
Captain Parmesh Parsotam top-scored with 13 as his team was restricted to 69-9. Seamer Siddiq Mohamed dented the chase with 2-2 in just one over, while Benn once again worked up a pace and took 2-17.
Meanwhile, the Masters match was won by the home team over Reliance. The event, main purpose of which was to raise funds for the NOC Sports Club, was deemed a success by point man Antony Adams.
The organisers extended thanks to Essequibo Cricket Board and Andy Ramnarine for their support, along with that of the South Essequibo Cricket Board.
Nieem Khan was also highlighted for donating 50lbs of chicken, and the many villagers who turned out and left asked that another event of this nature be held soonest.
