Prime Minister Mark Phillips (C) with the winning Speedboat team and representatives of GSCL Inc.
Quentin Sampson accepts his MVP prize from GSCL Inc President Ian John.
Yusuf- Man-of-the-match Ameer Yusuf receives his prize from Prime Minister Mark Phillips.
The victorious over 50 team Regal Legends.
Regal Allstars- Prime Minister Mark Phillips with runner up Regal All stars team.
Kaieteur News – Safraz Karim and Ameer Yusuf struck half centuries to lead Speedboat to a 31-run victory over Regal All stars in the open final of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc Prime Minister’s T20 Cup 4 on Sunday last.
Batting first at the Everest Cricket Club, Speedboat lost Lennox Marks bowled by Roy Persaud for 13 and Greg Singh caught off Richard Latif for two to be at 29-2.
Purposeful bowling by Regal All stars further reduced Speedboat as Mark Harold was caught and bowled by Delroy Perreira for 11, while skipper Wazeer Hussain was taken off Diyanan Ramnauth for seven to leave the score at 61-4.
However, Safraz Karim and Safraz Esau steadied the innings somewhat with a fifth wicket stand of 48 before Esau was removed by Karamchand Persaud for 19. Shortly after Shazim Hussain was caught off Roy Persaud after hitting two sixes in scoring 12 as Regal All stars bowlers continued to maintain a decent line.
However, Karim and Ameer Yusuf united in an entertaining seven-wicket stand of 79 which changed the course of the match. The duo took advantage of anything wayward as they rallied their team to 201-6 with some power hitting. Karim struck two fours and six sixes in a top score of 71, while Yusuf smashed an unbeaten 51 off 11 balls with one four and seven sixes, a knock which earned him the man-of-the-match award. Persaud took 2-39.
Latif and Fazal Rafiek handed Regal All stars a steady start with a first wicket stand of 37 before Peter Alleyne provided Speedboat with the breakthrough by having Rafiek caught for 25; one run later Greg Singh sent back Latif for nine.
Chien Gittens and Perreira added 28 for the third wicket before Gittens was taken off Kishore Smith for 14. Ian Ivan then disturbed the stumps of Sewchand Budhu without scoring; leaving Regal All stars in some trouble at 66-4 as batting became fairly difficult following a sharp shower. However, Perreira and Ricky Sergeant kept their team in the hunt with a fifth wicket partnership of 41 before Perreira was taken off Ivan for 47 with three fours and four sixes. Avinash Mohabeer hit two fours and two sixes in a cameo 21, while Sergeant and Davindra Ramnauth remained unbeaten on 22 with two sixes and 13 respectively, but their efforts were not enough as Regal All stars finished on 170-6. Ivan had 2-29 and Kishore Smith 2-30.
Speedboat pocketed a trophy and $200,000 while Regal All stars received a trophy and $50,000.
Quentin Sampson of Ariel was named the most valuable player and he received one flat screen television set for his efforts.
Earlier, Regal Legends won the over 50 final against Savage Legends and Fisherman Masters took the over 45 title after winning against Wellman Masters.
Meanwhile, Speedboat has dedicated the win to their former Coach Lance Mosely who passed away on Saturday last. The Speedboat Sports Club has extended condolences to the relatives of Mosely who also served as President of the club.