An unbeaten knock of 25 from Gordial Mattai and a composed innings of 24 from skipper Ricky Deonarine led Guyana Fllodlight softball cricket team to victory in the 2015 New York Softball Cricket League 2015 Legends Cup, in New York, United States of America recently.
Playing against the Guyana Softball Cricket League Masters in the final, Floodlight won by five wickets in a match that was only decided in the final over of the 20-overs-a-side competition. It was second time around victorious for the Floodlight team which had reached the final in 2013 only to lose to Better Hope.
This time, however there was to ne no letdown as Deonarine won the toss and inserted the opposition to bat and they responded by scoring 128 all out in 19.1 overs. Peter Persaud, 24, Ishwar Persaud, 19, Jagdesh Bojh, 17, Troy Kippins, 15 and Mahendra Hardyal and Sahadeo Budhu with 10 runs each were the principal scorers as Jagdesh Persaud and Sydney Jackman grabbed two wickets each for 22 and 23 runs respectively while Ravi Latchman and Joe Persaud supported with a wicket each.
In reply Floodlight needing to score 11 runs in the last over duly reached their target courtesy of man of the Match Mattai who ended on 25 not out. Deonarine, 24, Joe Persaud, 17, Richard Persaud, 16 and Jackman 12 were the major contributors for the winning side.
Peter Persaud bagged two wickets while there was a wicket each for Clive Butts, Kippins and Pooran Singh. Lawrie Singh was voted the MVP of the tournament.
The two finalists were the only teams from Guyana to participate in the tournament and according to a press release, both teams received very good support from relatives and friends who flocked to the Roy Wilkins Park in Queens to support the teams.
