The Guyana Police Force (GPF), yesterday retained the Balram Raghubir Inter-Services T20 tournament after defeating archrivals the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) by four wickets at the Police sports club ground, Eve Leary.
GDF who won the toss and batted, were 41 for two at the halfway point after losing Quacy Mc Pherson (00) and Dorious Nedd (14) early on.
Randy Knight (0-14) and Grisean Grant (2-13) bowled tidily to complete their spells after the 10 overs mark.
GDF seemed to be banking in skipper Leon Andrews, who was on five after the 10th over. Andrews had earlier in the tournament smashed a belligerent 204, to take their side to a respectable total. It was tough going for him as he found it difficult to score while also receiving a few sharp short deliveries from his opposite number Trevor Benn.
The GDF batsmen started to push the score along during the 11th over when Andrews smashed Keston Hardcourt over his head for six, then sliced a delivery down to the third man boundary for four to take his side past 50 after taking 11 runs from the over.
GDF pushed the score along and ended the 15th over with the score sitting on 78 for three as the lawmen kept the screws tight. The score moved along to 92 for four at the end of the 17th over after a few lustily blows for the GDF batsmen who belatedly started to shift gears. They eventually ended on 122 for 8. Top scorer Andrews was run-out for 48 in the final over. His knock included four fours and a solitary six.
Jason Heyliger (2-32) supported Knight and Grant’s earlier efforts.
Police, in their pursuit to retain the title which they won in 2015 against the same opposition after the 2016 edition was canceled due to the 2016 Camp street prison riot, were well on their way when opener Sherwin Mc Pherson cracked Andre McFarlane for two fours in the first over. They reached 52 for 2 at the end of the first power play after losing Mc Pherson (13) and Paul Tyndal (5) in quick succession.
The rains, however, came and halted play in the 10th over with the score on 62 for two. GDF after the break fought themselves back into the contest when skipper Andrews removed O’Donnell Hill (37) and Kevin Letch (00) to leave the score on 71 for five.
Heyliger, however, managed to steer his side home with a defiant 35 not – out from 33 balls. He stroked four fours and a six and featured in a critical 20-run partnership with Benn who made 12. Andrews three for 18 was the pick of the bowlers for GDF while Heyliger received the player of the match award for his exploits with both bat and ball.
