The semi-finals of the Memorex Enterprises Limited countrywide 15 overs-a-side softball tournament was completed last Sunday at the picturesque Guyana National Service (GNS) ground, with Regal XI and Wolf Warriors setting up a match in the finals.
In the first match, Regal XI of Georgetown took on current Demerara champions Rangers Sports Club of West Coast Demerara, winning the toss and electing to take first strike, made a challenging 138 for 5 in their 15 overs.
Kapildeo Singh batting at number three top scored with 45 which was laced with 4 sixes and 2 fours off 54 balls and together with the belligerent Lance Adams who cracked 29 not out off 21 balls (3×6; 1×4), added 61 valuable runs for their team.
The Rangers SC bowling attack was very tight in the first eight overs, conceding only 42 runs before the last seven overs went for 96, with 44 coming off the final two. Doodnauth Champalall with 2-17, was the principal wicket taker for Rangers SC.
When Rangers SC began their reply, they lost their experienced opener Sanath La Channa in the second over for two runs and never recovered after that as there was a steady procession to and from the pavilion and only a partnership of 30 between Ameer Nizamuddeen 21 runs (3×4) and Safraz Karim 27 runs (2×6; 1×4) saved Rangers SC from blushing before they were bowled out for 90 in 13.2 overs.
Brothers Lakeram Roopnarine who grabbed 4-10 and Balram Roopnarine with 2-10 were the destroyers of Rangers SC batting line up, as Regal XI completed a 48-runs victory.
In the second match between Untouchables XI of Berbice and Wolf Warriors, the former won the toss and elected to bat but found themselves in early trouble, losing three quick wickets with only 17 runs on the board in the fifth over.
A 60-runs partnership between Andy Bertram 17(1×6;1×4) and Vickram Veersammy 43 which included 2 huge sixes and 4×4, coupled with some late hitting by David Looknauth 24( 2×6;3×4) off 7 balls took Untouchables XI to their eventual score of 111 off 14.3 overs. Roopnarine Rambharose with 4-16 and Mahesh Doodnarine with 3-12, both from three overs, completed the rout of the Ancient County team batting lineup.
Wolf Warriors started their reply badly, losing their skipper Amrit Jairam in the first over without scoring and that energized the Untouchables XI attack as they proceeded to put Wolf Warriors on the ropes by picking up three more quick wickets, including that of the other opener Balbinder Persaud for 4 runs.
But Mahesh Dhanpaul entered the scene and began by hitting the first ball he faced over midwicket for six. At the other end Asif Ahamad was quietly accumulating his runs and in partnership with Dhanpaul took the score to within 6 runs of victory before he was bowled by Roy Jafferally after a well played 42 (4×4; 2×6), bringing an end to a 62-runs partnership with Dhanpaul.
Thereafter the winning runs were formalized fittingly by Dhanpaul who was unbeaten on 37 runs at the end, as Wolf Warriors ended on 113-5 off 14.3 overs to set up a match with Regal XI in the final.
