The fifth Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc., Prime Minister’s Cup, bowled off yesterday with Ariel and Name Brand among the teams standing out.
At the Muslim Youth Organisation ground, Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, officially declared the match open with a ceremonial bowl off.
Phillips wished the teams’ success and urged them to put their best foot forward in order to have a competitive tournament.
In the Open category, Ariel stunned the spectators when they defeated defending Open champions, Speedboat by six wickets at the Eve Leary ground.
Asked to bat, Speedboat were in rough waters, managing just 114 all out in 18.3 overs while Ariel sailed to victory by reaching 117 for four, winning with eight overs to spare.
Ariel’s chase was piloted by Quintin Sampson’s unbeaten 65. The Essequibian’s innings featured eight sixes, one of which was smashed over square leg to reach his half century and one four, when he got off the mark.
Sampson was supported by Eon Hooper who ended on 31 not out while Shazim Hussain was the pick of the Speedboat bowlers with 3-26.
Earlier, Dianand Singh Ariel’s bowling with 3-15. He was complemented by Keyon Sinclair (2-14), Sampson (2-20) and Jonathan Fernandes (2-31).
Despite four dropped catches, it was only Devindra Mohan (26) and Kishore Smith (25) that withstood the sea of bowlers from Ariel.
Ariel then went on to beat Regal by 29 runs in their second match. Regal won the toss and inserted Ariel who posted 159 for seven from their quota. Regal could only manage 130 for nine by the time their overs expired.
Sampson again was among the runs for Ariel, top scoring with 37 which featured three sixes and a four while David Williams (28) and Hooper (17) supported. Sewchand Budhu returned 2-37 for Regal.
In the chase, Regal’s stalwarts, Richard Latiff (37) and Chein Gittens (32) produced the only substantive scores as Sampson picked up 3-21. Fernandes and Keyon Sinclair each bagged two wickets.
Regal, however, won their first match after beating Success by eight wickets. Success, sent in, were restricted to 105 for nine in 20 overs as Latiff, Karamchand Persaud and Delroy Perreira accounted for two wickets each. Kumar Bishundial top scored with 29 while Latchman Chinapen made 23 for Success.
Sachin Singh then led the charge for Regal with a blistering 52, decorated with four sixes and two fours as Gittens and Latiff returned to make 28 and 18 respectively. Asif Husmani and Nandsyaam Budhoo were the lone wicket-takers for Success.
In the last match at Eve Leary, Speedboat defeated Airport by 95 runs after posting 238 for seven when they won the toss and batted.
Devindra Mohan was the architect of the innings, hitting eight sixes in his 55-run knock while Safraz Esau (44), A. Mohabir (39) and Greg Singh (35) chipped in.
Airport were kept to 143 for five with Anand Bharrat making 57 and Quazim Yusif contributing 39.
Over at the Demerara Cricket Club, Name Brand brushed aside Airport by seven wickets. Airport batted first and made 136 for eight from their 15-over allotment compliments of Shane Wong’s unfinished 56, highlighted by four sixes and three fours.
A collective effort from Name Brand saw them to 140 for three in 11.1 overs as J. Diaram (42), K. Gangaram (38) and K. Dyal (34) got among the runs.
Name Brand also beat Success by six wickets. Success posted 166 for five with A. Rooplall smashing 11 sixes and a four on his way to 82 while R. Fung (32) and Travis Drakes (29) supported. N. Bailey was the principal wicket-taker with 2-24. Dyal steered Name Brand to victory with 47.
In the Legends division at Liliendaal, Regal Legends defeated NY Hustlers by 110 runs with Younis Usuff’s 96 and Ramesh Deonarine’s 47 steering them to 223 for four. Usuff added 51 for the opening partnership with Anil Hardyal (09) before sharing in a 77-run stand for the second wicket with Deonarine.
Hustlers were kept quiet before eventually ending on 113 for seven by the time their overs expired with Parshram Persaud and Narine taking three wickets each.
Regal Legends also beat Wellman Legends by 78 runs after posting 173 for nine and dismissing Wellman for 95 in 18.4 overs.
Narine hammered 11 sixes and two fours during his top score of 86 while Usuff made 43 with four sixes and a four as Linden Thom picked up 3-23.
Wayne Jones was the only batsman to stand up with a top score of 30 while F. Mohammed took 3-30 and Usuff bagging (2-18).
In the other Legends matches, Wellman beat Floodlights by eight wickets at Liliendaal, Orlando Legends defeated Rockaway Legends and Carpet Doctors by 22 runs and 37 runs respectively while Carpet Doctors beat New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Legends by seven wickets. NYSCL also lost to Rockaway by 95 runs.
The action continues tomorrow at several grounds across Georgetown before heading into the final at the National Stadium, Providence on Sunday.
