The curtains came down on the 15 over softball tournament sponsored by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, as Rocky XI whipped Trophy Stall XI by 22 runs in an exciting final played under lights at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground last Friday night.
Trophy Stall XI won the toss and elected to send their opponents in on a well prepared track, and saw Rocky XI got off to a flying start as both openers Balbinder Persaud who averaged over 50 in the competition and Azad Azeez clobbered sixes in the first two overs bowled by captain Dindial Lakhan and Rajin Mohamed as the score raced to 26 runs.
The first wicket, that of Azeez (15) fell with the score on 30 in the fourth over bowled by Mohamed. Then entered Amrit “Rocky” Jairam the captain of Rocky’s XI, who proceeded to tear the bowling apart with some clean hitting as he cleared the ground on eleven occasions in a display of power hitting to take them to 167-3 off their allotted 15 overs.
Jairam blasted his way to 89 from 47 balls before he was finally out going for his twelfth six on the long on boundary by Rajin Mohamed, but he had already done big damage.
He was well supported first by Balbinder Persaud who made 22(2×6; 1×4) in a stand of 56 runs and then by Asif Ahmad with whom he shared a stand of 71 runs. Ahmad was not out in the end on 26 runs as Ron Ramnauth who got the wicket of Jairam was the best bowler with 1-40 from his 3 overs bowling for Trophy Stall XI.
When Trophy Stall XI batted they were in immediate trouble losing the in form Mark ”Rambo” Harold in the first over for a duck off the bowling of Wasim Rahaman who then proceeded to remove captain Dindial Lakhan with a quicker delivery which went between his legs after he found himself in a tangle in his 3 overs.
It was a steady procession until Mohamed and Mark Fung were at the wicket and they counter attacked the bowling in a 64 run stand which seemed at one time to be taking them to victory. But Jairam took the ball and brought off a spectacular catch off his own bowling to remove the dangerous Fung for 23(3×6).
Mohamed continued until the opening bowler Asif Ahmad was brought back in a good piece of captaincy by Jairam and that did the trick as he removed Mohamed with his fourth delivery of his new over and all hopes of Trophy Stall XI evaporated with his demise, as the rest of the batting fell away.
Only Leo Rampaul with an unbeaten 33(4×6), was able to show some resistance to Rocky XI’s bowling as Trophy Stall limped to 145-8 in 14.4 overs. Bowling for Rocky XI Rahaman took 2-28 from his 3 overs. Amrit Jairam also returned with the ball to take 2-27 from his 3 overs. Khusial was also among the wickets with 2-28 from his 2.4 overs.
Amrit “Rocky” Jairam was adjudged Man of the Final for his superb innings of 89 along with his two wickets and 2 spectacular catches in a fine all round display.
Managing Director of Trophy Stall Ramesh Sunich vowed to make this an annual tournament and also stated that the next competition will be a country wide competition.