-to face Wolf Warriors and Parika Defenders
OPENERS Patrick Rooplall and Eric Thomas both struck unbeaten centuries at the Everest Cricket Club ground yesterday, to pilot their respective Regal teams to the finals of the Rafman Ali organised softball tournament.Playing for Regal XI against Speedboat in their Open category semifinal matchup on pitch number one, Rooplall struck 13 sixes and five fours in his unbeaten 110, which together with an unbeaten 44 (5×6, 2×4) from Chien Gittens, steered their side to 177 for 1 off 11.4 overs.
This was after Speedboat had posted what looked like a match winning 176 for 8 off their 15 overs, led by Kishore Smith 31 (3×6, 1×4), 27 from Greg Singh and 22 each from Lennox Marks and Tyrone Drakes, with Drakes hitting three sixes.
Gittens took 3 for 34, Safraz Esau 2 for 22 and Mohammed Ayume 2 for 34 for Regal XI, who in their reply lost Esau (02) when he was caught at the wicket off Greg Singh at 30 for 1, following which Rooplall and Gittens added 147 for their unbroken second wicket partnership.
In the other semifinal, Wolf Warriors batted first and posted 162 for 6, thanks to 56 (5×6, 4×4) from Vishnu Tamenchandra and an unbeaten 48 from Safraz Karim, which included six fours and one six.
Suchan Budhan and Sachin Singh took two wickets each for 18 and 24 runs respectively for Trophy Stall, who in reply were bowled out for 132 from 14.3 overs, with Mark Dutchin 34 (4×4, 2×6), Delroy Ferreira 28 (4×4, 2×6) and Shailendra Ramnauth 26 being their principal scorers.
Khemraj Ramsundar (4 for 19) and Narine Bailey 3 for 11 bowled Wolf Warriors to a 30-run victory and date with Regal XI in this Sunday’s final which will be played at the Success ground.
In the over-40 category, Regal Masters batted first in their semifinal matchup against Sundeep Masters, and led by Thomas’ unbeaten 107 (9×6, 8×4), 42 (5×6, 2×4) from skipper Mahendra Arjune, 34 (4×6, 2×4) from Eon Abel and 21 (4×4) from Tony Amerally, posted 261 for 5 from their 20 overs.
D. Mohabir took 3 for 21 for Sundeep Masters, who in reply were bowled out for 122 off 15.3 overs, with Mohabir 31 (4×4, 1×6) and Talish 25 (4×6) being their leading scorers as Arjune (2 for 27), Satro Seeraj (2 for 31) and Mahendra Hardyal (2 for 35), bowled Regal Masters to the massive 139 runs victory.
In the other semifinal, Park Rangers batted first and were bowled out for 142, led by G. De Franca 39, Shaun Massiah 24 and D. Mohan Reis 18, as A. Mohammed 3 for 31 and MRK Saffie 2 for 29 did the damage with the ball for Parika Defenders, who reached 143 in 17.4 overs in reply.
This was mainly due to 41 from Kabesh, 21 from Kenrick Persaud and 13 from Mohammed, while there was a wicket each for R. Persaud, DeFranca and Ravin Singh.
The winning team of the Open category will pocket $100,000 and a trophy, while the runner-up will receive $50,000 and trophy, while in the Master’s category, the victors will walk away with $75,000 and trophy and the runner-up $50,000 and trophy.
Some of the sponsors for the tournament are Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Trophy Stall, Memorex, Guyana Rice Board, Shatter Plus, Ramie’s Electrical and Dad Poultry Farm, just to name a few.