By Calvin Roberts
Former national Twenty20 champions Young Warriors Cricket Club proved their superiority and that their victory in last week’s Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) Noble House Seafoods sponsored Twenty20 competition was no fluke when they defeated host Rose Hall Town Windies Sports Bar (RHTWSB) by three wickets to win the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club/Banks DIH Sprite sponsored Twenty20 competition at the Area ‘H’ ground on Sunday.
Batting first after winning the toss on a flat wicket that played low later in the day, RHTWSB were bowled out for 98 from 19.3 overs with former Guyana/Stanford Twenty20 star Andre Percival top-scoring with 23.
Young Warriors replied with 100-7 from 19.2 overs with Randolph Baker, unbeaten on 20.
RHTWSB can blame themselves for such a moderate total after receiving a sound start of 33 inside four overs from openers Delbert Hicks (21) and Berbice under-19 opener Eon Hooper (06).
Hooper’s dismissal, caught by substitute wicket keeper Farouk Hussain (who was deputising for the injured Ishwar Singh) off Kwesi Maltay in the fourth over, saw RHTWSB losing wickets rapidly.
They lost Hicks, who was also caught by Hussain off a thin edge as he attempted to steer off spinner Balram Samaroo to third man; Khemraj Mahadeo (11) and captain and danger-man Renwick Batson (0) inside two overs to be precariously perched on 44-4 in the eighth over.
But Percival added 20 runs for the fifth wicket with Troy Matheison (8) and a further 19 with Rangasammy.
But clearly the total was not good enough despite the condition of the pitch.
Former national captain Damodar Daesrath with 3-16 and Samaroo, who ended with 3-17 did the damage with the ball for Young Warriors who began their reply in contrasting fashion to their opponents.
Samaroo (04) and national under-19 coach Hubern Evans added 15 runs inside four overs before Evans (04) was bowled by Batson with a delivery that kept low.
A double strike by Batson in the sixth over which saw the removal of Samaroo and Hussain (13) left Young Warriors shakily placed on 28-3 and when national under -19 all rounder Seon Hetimyer was adjudged lbw to left arm orthodox spinner Damian Vantull (3-18) who later on give Richard Ramdeen a life at a crucial point in the game, they were 43-4 in the ninth over and Rose Hall supporters were celebrating victory at this stage.
To compound matters, Daesrath was caught by Ravi Narine at short midwicket off Vantull for 11 and veteran Anil Beharry was bowled by Vantull for 7.
At 60-6 in the 13th over, there was more reason for the RHTWSB supporters to rejoice.
But Singh, the older brother of national middle order batsman Gajanand Singh, and Rudolph Baker, combined to add 32 for the eighth wicket in four overs that helped snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat from RHTWSB.
Baker was undefeated with 20, decorated with one six and two fours from eight balls whilst Singh made nine with two fours from 13 balls.
Vantull (3-18) and Hicks (3-19) were the successful bowlers for RHTWSB.
At the simple presentation ceremony that followed, Hussain won the Play of the Day prize ($6,000.00) whilst Percival received $6,000.00 for making the most runs in the final.
Daesrath won the man of the match ($15,000.00 and a trophy) and the best bowler ($6,000.00) prizes respectively whilst RHTWSB pocketed $50,000.00 and a trophy for their runner-up position.
Young Warriors received $100,000.00 and a trophy for being the victors.
Secretary of RHTYSC Hilbert Foster charged all the clubs to begin their preparation for a 10/10 competition which will commence as soon as the rain abates.
This type of competition will be a first in Guyana and will have bigger prizes up for grabs.
