Led by Ricardo Adams’ unbeaten half-century, the Wolf’s Warriors Sunday night declared themselves as the best softball team in Guyana after scripting a nail-biting four-run win over Regal XI as the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) wrapped up its Guyana Cup 4 tournament.
Played in front a sold out capacity crowd at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, the left-handed opener smoked a breezy 53 as he held his nerve, batting out the entire innings against good bowling. Skipper Amit Rai, who has been among the runs during the competition chipped in with 31 while Sarfraz Kareem supported with 37 as they racked up a
formidable 166-4 from 20 overs.
Bowling for Regal, F. Rafeek picked up 2-39 while S. Budhan picked up 2-42 as their team in reply came perilously close before being dismissed for 162 in 19.5 overs.
Opener Patrick Rooplall was the top scorer with 30. Barkley was the Warriors standout bowler with 2-22.
From a spectator’s perspective, Regal had the match won especially in the last over when they only needed four more runs from two balls before Rafeek turned things on its head to collect the last wicket as masses of Wolf’s supporters rushed onto the field to celebrate with their team.
Adams, who is more known for his rampaging ways in the more professional format of the game, laid the platform for his team with his wide array of strokes which proved to be the difference between the two teams.
Earlier in the day the tournament MVP and Man-of-the-Match Uniss Yusuf played a match-winning innings with both bat and ball as Floodlight XI outplayed Savage XI by 18-runs in the Maters final. Yusuf stroked 62 and snared 2-28 while Imtiaz Mohamed scored 35 to steer Floodlights to an imposing 180-4 in their 20 overs, despite R. Samaroo snatching 3-30.
In reply, Savage XI was restricted to 162-8. L. Camacho scored 64 in a valiant effort. Yusuf was the x-factor for his team with both bat and ball throughout the competition and was rewarded handsomely with the MVP gold and diamond bracelet for the Masters category and other spoils for being the man-of-the-match in the final.
In the ladies category Trophy Stall Angels again stomped their authority with the likes of June Ogle and Kavita Yadram being instrumental in their success. At the post match presentation GFSCA President Ramchand Rhagbeer thanked all teams, patrons’, sponsors and his fellow organizers for their support and hoped for a bigger tournament next year.
Yadram collected the winner’s trophy and $50,000 for the female team while Yusuf, who scored 209 runs, captured three wickets and held eight catches won the MVP for the Masters. Opposition skipper for Savage XI Nadir “Gas” Baksh won $150,000 and the runners-up trophy.
Floodlight XI skipper Dharam Persaud lifted the winner’s trophy and the winning cheque of $600,000 and thanked his team for the success they had brought while stating that the hard work had paid off.
In the Open category Lennox Marks of Farm XI walked away with the MVP gold and diamond studded bracelet for his 179 runs which made him the most outstanding player in the Open division.
Adams for his match-wining half-century was given $50,000 compliments of G-Spot Bar and a trophy for his efforts. Regal XI captain Richard Latiff took the second place trophy and $200,000 while the team of the night the West Side Wolf’s Warriors skipper Rai proudly lifted the winner’s trophy and a total of $1,000,000 in cash.
