Throughout the history of all professional sports there have been many “David versus Goliath” type contests when an underdog team defies the odds and topples the superior opponent.
This has solidified the belief that the mightiest of teams can suffer an upset on any given day.
Another chapter in this unique scenario was repeated yesterday when the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President’s XI defeated a star-studded Gizmos and Gadgets Georgetown Pitbulls team in a super over of an enthralling final of the Carib Beer/Pepsi nationwide Twenty20 competition at the Albion Community Center Ground.
This was the second consecutive giant-killing triumph for the President’s XI team after they had toppled Berbice giants Church’s Chicken Corentyne Titans in the semi-final.
After both sides had finished with their scores tied on 126 after 20 overs of batting, the GCB President’s XI required 15 to win the one-over eliminator.
Having made 14 runs off the first five deliveries, in mildly controversial circumstances off-spinner Dion Ferrier bowling the final ball to Elton Baker, completed his action without releasing the ball. He then saw non-striker Renwick Batson wandering out of the popping crease and proceeded to take the bails up and along with his team mates appealed vociferously and umpire Shanon Crawford gave Batson out.
The decision sparked jubilation from Pitbulls and utter disgust from the President’s XI at the end. Pitbulls captain Christopher Barnwell in the heat of the moment showed great maturity and agreed to come back onto the field and bowl over the final ball of the game – which resulted in Baker hitting Ferrier through mid-wicket for two runs to complete the win.
The day’s proceedings commenced in glorious sunshine with the GCB President’s XI skipper Vishaul Singh winning the toss and elected to take first strike on an extremely flat-looking surface.
However, the President’s XI team suffered an early setback when Elton Baker (2), one of two century makers in the competition, feathered a catch to wicket-keeper Derwin Christian off the bowling of off-spinner Steven Jacobs – to leave them on 7 for 1 in the third over.
Skipper Singh and Essequibo opener Norman Fredericks then went about settling their team’s innings.
They took the President’s XI past the 50-run mark during a second wicket stand of 54, the highlight of which, was the two over period when both left-handers got on top of Pitbulls captain Barnwell‘s bowling, hitting him for 23 runs of his two overs, which forced Barnwell to take himself out of the attack.
The introduction of off-spinner Ferrier in the 12th over swung the momentum of the context back in favour of the Georgetown side.
With his third delivery Ferrier bowled Fredericks 24 (31 balls, 3×4) as he missed his attempted slog to mid-wicket. The final ball of that over, saw Singh being run out for 30 ( 27 balls, 4×4) when a straight drive from Jeetendra Sookdeo ricocheted from Ferrier’s hands onto the stumps leaving Singh short of his crease.
Ferrier picked up another wicket when Sookdeo lost his off-stump attempting to cut a delivery to the point region, leaving the President’s XI precariously placed on 67/4 in the 14th over.
The powerfully built Delon Heyliger with a resourceful innings of 35 (24 balls, 2×4, 2×6), was the main architect behind the President’s XI mustering another 59 runs off the final six overs.
In pursuit of their moderate target, off-spinner Eon Hooper, fresh off his inspired semi-final bowling efforts against Church’s Chicken Corentyne Titans, was again spot on when he trapped Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) opener Trevon Griffith leg-before for a golden duck.
Fellow opener Rajendra Chandrika (8) departed in the fifth over of the innings via the run out route due to a brilliant piece of fielding from Singh at short-wicket, leaving the Pitbulls on 18/2 in over number five.
Then West Indies players Leon Johnson and Barnwell joined forced and steadied the innings.
Firstly they took the score past the 50-mark in 9.3 overs when Barnwell slammed leg-spinner Amir Khan down the ground for two straight pulled boundaries.
With the score 75/2 in the 14 over and the duo looking comfortable, it seemed as if they would take their side home.
However, both batsmen departed in the space of five deliveries as the Georgetown side slumped to 95/6 in the 17th over.
They needed 32 runs to win from the final three overs with Jacobs and Ferrier at the crease.
The pair batted intelligently taking the Pitbulls within two runs of victory when Jacobs 23 (14 balls, 3×4) perished to Ronsford Beaton of the penultimate ball of the innings.
Ferrier stroked the final ball for a single and Troy Gonzalves ran himself out attempting an impossible second run, as the President’s XI fought back manfully the tie the contest.
At the presentation ceremony Baker and Singh received the Man of the Match and Most Valuable player (MVP) awards.
Singh then announced that given the discrepancies that emerged at the end, they had decided to split the one-million dollar prize money 60/40 with the Pitbulls.
Earlier in the day’s low key third-place match, Church’s Chicken Corentyne Titans thrashed Mario’s Pizza West Berbice Super Kings by 136 runs.
Winning the toss and batting the Titans racked up an impressive 202/4 in their full quota of 20 overs with Royston Crandon 60 (22 balls, 6×4, 4×6) and Rajiv 58 (40 balls, 7×4, 2×6) leading the way with quality half-centuries.
Sewnarine Chattergoon (33) and Anthony Bramble (23) were the other significant contributors with the bat.
In reply the Super Kings innings was a total procession as they folded miserably for 66 all out in 14.5 overs. Medium pacer Yogendra Harrinarine was the bowler responsible for scuttling their innings with figures of 5 for 20.
The Guyana side for the upcoming Caribbean Twenty20 tournament starting next January in Antigua and Barbados is expected to be named during the week.
Scoreboard
GCB President’s XI innings
N Fredericks b D Ferrier 24
E Baker ct D Christian b S Jacobs 2
V Singh* run out (Ferrier) 30
J Sookdeo b D Ferrier 3
R Batson b D Ferrier 19
D Heyliger not out 35
E Hooper lbw b D Ferrier 0
Z Mohammed not out 4
Extras (B 2, b 3, w 4) 9
Total (6 wickets, 20 overs) 126
FOW: 1-7, 2-61, 3-61, 4-67, 5-102, 6-102
Bowling:
S Jacobs 4-0-15-1
K Carmichael 4-0-23-0
C Barnwell 2-0-23-0
T Bishun 4-0-34-0
D Ferrier 4-1-11-4
L Johnson 2-0-16-0
Georgetown Pitbulls Innings
T Griffith Lbw E Hooper 0
R Chandrika (run out V Singh) 8
L Johnson b J Sookdeo 29
C Barnwell Lbw b Beaton 36
D Christian b Sookdeo 5
S Jacobs ct Fredericks b Beaton 23
W Haslim run out 1
D Ferrier not out 17
T Gonsalves run out 0
Extras (b1, lb 1, w 5) 7
Total (8 wickets, 20 overs) 126
FOW: 1-0, 2-12, 3-75, 4-77, 5-94, 6-95, 7-125, 8-126
Bowling:
E Hooper 4-1-10-1
R Beaton 4-0-19-2
Z Mohammed 4-0-30-0
A Khan 4-0-33-0
J Sookdeo 3-0-20-2
D Heyliger 1-0-12-0
