Patentia and Mae’s win windball titles

— Forbes Burnham Foundation Memorial tournament

Mae’s Secondary School girls team with MVP Afruica Gentle (black) and Vincent Alexander, President of the Forbes Burnham Foundation.
Mae’s Secondary School girls team with MVP Afruica Gentle (black) and Vincent Alexander, President of the Forbes Burnham Foundation.

Patentia Secondary won the boys and Mae’s Secondary the girls’ titles when the curtain came down on the 27th annual Forbes Burnham Foundation Memorial Inter-Secondary Schools windball tournament at the National Gymnasium on Sunday.

Playing in front of a considerably large gathering of parents, cricket lovers, government officials and members of the wider diaspora, Patentia posted 129-1 after being sent in to bat. The highlight of the innings was the knock of 86 not out by Man of the Match Maniram Singh who duly disposed 13 deliveries over the concrete wall which accounted for six runs while his opening partner, Denish Persaud made a quick-fire 22.  In reply, the run rate was just too high for Charlestown Secondary who could only manage 102-1 from their five overs.

Raymond Bandhu (44) and Alex Budhai (37) remained unbeaten.

Patentia Secondary School boys’ team and Forbes Burnham Foundation President and organizer of the competition Vincent Alexander.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Budhai scored 42 while Brandon Hooray added 22 to see Charlestown chasing down 70 set by the Bishops’ High School who had earlier struggled to post 69-7, with Collin Smartt picking up two wickets.

In the other semi-final Patentia defeated Camille’s Institute.

Batting first, Patentia posted 130-1 with Singh top scoring once again with 66 while Persaud made a fine half-century. This total proved to be too much for Camille’s Institute who slipped to 94-5 with Samuel Ramlochan bagging two wickets.

In the girls’ category, Afruica Gentle continued her splendid form to lead Mae’s Secondary to the title with a 105-run whipping of Camille’s Institute.

Batting first Gentle missed out on a century as she was stranded on 98 not out after pounding 15 sixes while Delay Seecharan (50) helped Mae’s reach 175-1 from their five overs.  In reply, Camille’s Institute fell behind the run rate as Crystal Melville bowled two overs for 24 and picked up one wicket.

Camille’s Institute eventually finished on 70-4 with Angel Young unbeaten in 34.

Earlier, Mae’s had disposed of defending champions, Cummings Lodge Secondary. Gentle once again got into the 90s smashing 14 sixes in an unbeaten knock of 96 as Mae’s reached 155-1 while Cummings Lodge tried valiantly but ended on 129-1 with Staysha Reece top scoring with 62.

In the second semifinal, Camille’s posted 147 as openers, Nino Safeena Rahim (79) and Alicia Davidson (48) faced all five overs. Patentia fell short by 28 runs despite Quedada Fraser’s 56.

At the end of the night as the awards ceremony went underway, Joel Gilkes and Denzel Forte who had put on 198 for Jos-el Educational Institute won the prize for the highest partnership while Gilkes earned himself the best bowling figures after bowling a triple wicket maiden.

East Ruimveldt Secondary won the spirit of the game award while Kuru Kuru Cooperative College was the best uniformed team.