The inaugural “Arrival Day T20” cricket tournament which was hosted by Quest International on Monday, at the Enmore Community Development Centre Ground, was won by the Combined XI who defeated Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and Lusignan by three wickets and 17 runs respectively.
The final, which was played between Combined XI and Lusignan, saw Lusignan losing to Combined XI by nine runs. After winning the toss, Combined XI opted to bat and was off to a good start with Nichosie Barker and Delvon McEwan adding 36 for the first wicket in five overs before McEwan was dismissed for 12. Barker continued to bat positively to finish with the top score of 30. He was supported by Steven Harris and Cordell Mars who scored 14 and 12 runs respectively to help take the Combined XI to 118-6 in their 15 overs. Bowling for Lusignan, Kumar Bissoondyal claimed 2-28 from his three overs.
Replying to the Combined XI score, Lusignan reached 109-5 at the end of their allotted 15 overs.
Leon Morgan and Somnauch Bharratt were the top scorers with 24 and 22 runs respectively. Bowling for the Combined XI, Mars claimed 2-13 from his three overs spell.
Earlier, in the first game of the day, the Combined XI defeated a strong DCC team which included Christopher Barnwell as well as guest players Leon Johnson and Robin Bacchus, by three wickets after scoring 18 runs off the final over.
Needing 94 to win off 12 overs, Leroy Bristol ensured the Combined XI reached the target by scoring 32 runs off 18 balls which included 11 in the final over. With former national youth player, Dexter George, bowling the final over, Bristol hit the first delivery of the over for six and followed up with twos off the second and third deliveries.
George bowled the fourth ball down the leg side for a wide that went crashing into the boundary followed by a single and then two more wides.
Bristol’s effort was supported by Steven Harris and Barker who scored 13 and 12 runs respectively. Bowling for DCC Johnson and Barnwell finished with two wickets each.
DCC, who batted first after being sent in, was restricted to 93-3 in 12 overs with Bacchus the principal scorer with 61 not out which included three fours and three sixes. Andrew Gibson (0), Johnson (06) and Barnwell (03) were the three batsmen dismissed. Bowling for the Combined XI, Mars and Harris with figures of 1-13 and 2-25 from three overs each were the only wicket takers.
In the second game of the day, Enmore who had national player Assad Fudadin and big hitting all-rounder Troy Gonsalves in its side was out played by Lusignan who won by 19 runs.
Lusignan, who batted first made 75-8 from their 12 overs with Safraz Ali top scoring with 25. Bowling for Enmore, Gonsalves and Yuvraj Dyal claimed two wickets each. In reply Enmore was rattled out for 56 in 12 overs as Gajanand Sooknanand claimed 3-12.
Bristol was adjudicated the most valuable player of the tournament while Barker and were respectively named best batsman and bowler of the tournament.
In a brief post match speech Bendict Prince of Quest International, congratulated the Combined XI for playing quality cricket which resulted in them being crowned
champions. He thanked the members of the Enmore Cricket Club, the villagers from Enmore and the most importantly the sponsors of the tournament. He opined that next year’s tournament will be bigger and better with the involvement of more corporate businesses.
The tournament was sponsored by Trans Pacific Motor Spares and Auto Sales, Star Party Rentals, Woodpecker Sports Complex, Trophy Stall, Tiger Sport and Motor Trend Auto Supplies.