A crowd-pleasing 112 by Zaheer Haniff was not enough to prevent Regal XI from being the 2007 champions of the West Indian Sports Complex sponsored 15-over softball cricket champions as they cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Hustlers XI at the Thirst Park ground Friday night. Scores Hustlers XI 157-4; Regal XI 159-3
Haniff who was given a life off the final delivery of the first over, made the Regal XI pay for their blunder as he struck their bowlers over the boundary with most of his shots being played on the leg side using the sweep shot to good effect.
He raised his 100 with a pugnacious pull to leg off Haslim. It took him 42 balls and he struck 12 sixes and four fours. He eventually fell for 112 with the score reading 127 in the 12th over. All told, he faced 50 balls striking 13 sixes and five fours for his score.
Replying to the 157 made by Hustlers XI, Regal on the back of a solid 81 from Zulfiqar Ali and a worthy 32 from Wasim Haslim saw their team to another comfortable victory with three overs to spare.
The two posted 89 runs for the first wicket from just seven overs, before Haslim who plays for the Georgetown Cricket Club lost his wicket. Haslim faced 10 balls hitting four sixes and one four for his 32.
Ali, one of four centurions in the competition, continued to blast the bowlers around the small Thirst Park venue, posting his 50 with a straight six. But when well set for his second ton of the competition and the second of the finals, he was bowled by Haniff for 81. He faced 34 deliveries and struck eight sixes and five fours.
After his demise, Kapil Dev Singh and Lance Adams saw their team home without any further casualties with Singh being unbeaten on 20 (3×6) and Adams 16 (2×6; 1×4). Haniff crowned a good night for himself when he took 2-18 from his three overs.
Earlier, Khalid Haslim captain of Regal XI probably had regrets after winning the toss and opting to field first, after seeing the leading run scorer of the competition Haniff belt the first two balls of the game bowled by Balram Roopnarine, over midwicket for sixes and was then dropped off the final delivery of the over.
Troy Khan offered support to Haniff with 19 late down in the innings from nine balls hitting two sixes in the process as Hustlers eventually closed on 157-4 when their 15 overs expired. Roopnarine ended with 2-32 from his three overs.
In an invited comment, Haslim told Stabroek Sport that his team’s confidence was high despite the herculean task of getting 158 from 15 overs.
“We are the number one team in the country and although we have never confronted them before, we were confident of getting to the target they set us. Credit must be given to Haniff for his innings albeit in a losing cause. I must say thanks to my team for their sterling support and never say die attitude even when we were in the field,” said Haslim.
Altaf Mohammed, captain of Hustlers XI was gracious in defeat.
“We lost to the best team tonight. Our team played well and Zaheer (Haniff) set the game up nicely for us with his innings. But the better team won tonight and I extend my congratulations to them.”
Prior to the start of the game both teams were met by the tournament sponsor Feroze Khan proprietor and Managing Director of West Indian Sports Complex.
In a brief statement, Khan stated that the competition was a yearly one for a number of years and congratulated both teams for reaching this far.
‘This has been a yearly tournament for a number of years. To find that these two teams out of 40 teams have reached this far in this year’s tournament is good. I must extend my congratulations to both of you and wish you both the best of luck in tonight’s game.’
