Outstanding performances from middle order batsman Jason Sinclair and former national under-19 captain Andre Percival helped Rose Hall Town Windies Sports Bar (RHTWSB) defeat archrivals Young Warriors by 73 runs to win the inaugural Associated Business Service limited overs cricket tournament.
Watched by a large crowd at the Rose Hall Ground, Canje last Sunday, RHTWSB, batting first, rattled up 225 for 9 off their allotted 40 overs and then dismissed the home team for 152 in 39.5 overs in reply.
Openers Renwick Batson, who scored 42, and Michael Rengasammi (10) put on 25 in four overs before Rengasammi was bowled off the inside edge by fast bowler Jermaine Henry.
Sinclair and Batson then added 74 runs for the second wicket before Batson was caught driving at veteran leg spinner Anil Beharry in the 18th over.
National middle order batsman Assad Fudadin, leading the team in the absence of regular skipper and national all rounder Esaun Crandon, joined forces with Sinclair and they took the score from 94-2 to 140 before Fudadin was bowled by off spinner Farouk Hussain for 17.
Sinclair was eventually caught off left arm spinner Charran Singh for a well played 61 made off 82 balls with three fours and two sixes.
Some solid middle order batting from Berbice Under-19 batsman Eon Hooper who ended unbeaten on 30, Khemraj Mahadeo (20) and Percival (16) saw RHTWSB to a competitive 225-9.
Singh bagged 4-43 while Hussain supported with 2-36.
Young Warriors in reply lost opener Daryl Narain in the third over run out with the score on 11 but a second wicket partnership of 65 runs from 14 overs between the hard hitting opener Hussain (49) and national under-19 player Seon Hetmyer (25) kept them in the hunt.
However, the five-man spin attack employed by RHTWSB dashed their hopes and when Hussain who struck three fours and one six in his innings and Hetmyer were dismissed, they were 82-3 in the 20th over.
Former national Under-19 player Balram Samaroo and Ishwar Singh took the score to 106 but when Percival trapped Singh lbw for 17, wickets fell regularly and only veteran and national under-19 coach Hubern Evans with 23 offered any resistance.
Percival ended with 4-26 from eight overs of controlled off spin while Troy Matheison and Ravi Narine chipped in with two wickets each for 19 and 19 runs respectively.
RHTWSB carted off the first prize of a trophy and $50,000 while Young Warriors ended with the runner-up prize of $25,000.
Sinclair won the best batsman of the finals and the man-of-the match awards for his innings and three dismissals behind the stumps while Percival was named the bowler of the final.
