The Guyana Media XI savored a much-needed win in memory of fallen teammate and fellow journalist Calvin Roberts when they defeated the Floodlight Masters team by 28 runs to lift the three-match series 2-1.
The John Ramsingh-led Media outfit had won the first match, a ‘hardball’ exchange, but lost in the softball encounter a few months later to set up the grand finale Friday night last at the headquarters of domestic floodlight cricket in Guyana, the Demerara Cricket Club ground.
A fair-sized crowd in attendance saw the Media boys piling up 178-6 off their allotted 20 overs, which they followed up by restricting the Floodlight Masters to 150-6 in their 20 overs.
The Media XI openers, Ramsingh (43) and Ravi Persaud (15), put on 64 runs in six overs taking full advantage of the fielding restrictions and some loose bowling.
Ramsingh was eventually bowled by nine-year-old off-spinner Romeo Deonarain (2-42) after hitting six fours and one six.
At that stage the Media XI wax cruising along at 104-2 after 10 overs.
However, Khalid Baker (3-15) brought the Floodlight Masters back in the game in the second half of the innings, bowling a tight spell as they allowed just 74 runs off the final 10 overs.
Ishaka Jackman and Daniel Singh kept the Media XI innings together with 27 (4x4s) and 19 (2x4s) runs respectively while Shahrukh Imran gave the innings some momentum towards the end with 19 (1×6).
In the run chase, Floodlight Masters were also off to a flying start with openers Uniss Yusuf and Nafjohn Samlall racing to 32 off the first two overs bowled by Rene Stoby and Clifton Ross.
The introduction of seamer Zaheer Mohamed (3-13) however, brought about the breakthrough immediately as he had Samlall caught by wicketkeeper Singh for 10 in the third over.
Yusuf and Lloyd Rooplall then threatened to speed away with the run chase, but with 68 runs on the board in the eight over, Jackman trapped Roopall leg before for 22 and Persaud followed up with a similar dismissal of Yusuf for 33 (5x4s, 2x6s) as Floodlight Masters slipped to 86-3 in the 12th over.
Diquan Murray comprehensively bowled the dangerous Wayne Jones for 12 while Mohamed returned to claim two more wickets, as the reigning Guyana Softball Cup Masters champions failed to keep up with a run rate of 15 during the final five overs. Baksh ended on 26 not out.
Trophies for the match were donated by the Trophy Stall of Bourda Market. Relatives of Roberts were on hand to witness the game and they later assisted in the presentation of prizes.
