A solid, all-round team effort by the Media XI saw them comfortably disposing Western Union’s Bill Express Titans by 65 runs Sunday at Thirst Park ground in a friendly match hosted by Western Union.
Chronicle Sport medium-pacer, Calvin Roberts, returned after making a first ball duck, to grab 5-23 from four overs.
He was supported by Kaieteur Sport’s off-spinner, Sean Devers, with 2-10 and Stabroek Sport’s left-arm seamer, Kizan Brumell, with 2-15, as the Titans were routed for 118, chasing 184 for victory.
Ishaka Jackman put up serious resistance for the Bill Express team with a polished 62 which included nine fours and two sixes but wickets fell at regular intervals due to the disciplined bowling and fielding of the Media operatives.
The team’s next highest score was 19 from Jason Roylan.
Earlier, National Communication Network’s (NCN) John Ramsingh, who made a resilient 53 and Guyana Times reporter Avenash Ramzan (6), gave the Media operatives a positive start after they lost the toss and were sent in.
Ramzan was bowled as he played across the line and the Media team lost captain Devers soon after before a half century partnership ensued with Ramsingh and Stabroek Sport reporter Marlon Munroe (30).
After some initial hiccups with running between the wicket, Ramsingh and Munroe set about rebuilding the innings.
Both batsmen punished the Western Union bowlers at various points but, with the introduction of another spinner Munroe, sliced a catch to third man, departing after hitting three fours and two sixes.
Ramsingh continued merrily on but wickets began falling rapidly.
But Chronicle Sport’s Rawle Toney came to the crease and hit two towering sixes before being run out while Capitol News’ reporter Esan Griffith plundered 30 which was decorated with three maximums and two fours.
Ramsingh was dismissed shortly after bringing up his half century which included three sixes and five fours as the Media XI eventually closed on 183.
Meanwhile, in the curtain-raiser, the ladies from GT&T comfortably defeated the Lady Bill Express Titans team by 26 runs.
Western Union won the toss and in the opposition who scored 91 with Vanita Bacchus top-scoring with 38 and Carlotta Lee chipping in with 36.
When Western Union replied, their ladies could only muster 65.
Keane Goodridge and Luenna Semple were the chief contributors with 18 and 16 respectively.