Since the 1976 sponsored Gillette Cup several players have distinguished themselves with outstanding performances in the finals of the premier Regional one-day competition.
Guyanese Roy Clinton Fredericks was the first player to score a century in a Regional one-day final. His pugnacious 119 led Guyana to its first championship title against the Leeward Islands at the Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John’s, and Antigua in the 1980 Geddes Grant/Harrison Line final.
The year before, 1979, Trinidad and Tobago seamer Alec Burns took five wickets for 40 runs from 10 overs to lead Trinidad and Tobago to their first Regional One Day title against Barbados at the Queen’s Park Oval ground in Port-of-Spain.
Burns is the first bowler to capture a five wicket haul in a Regional one day final.
In the 1981 Geddes Grant/Harrison Line final between Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados at the Kensington Oval ground, Harold `Mystery Man’ Joseph’s spell of 10 overs, six maidens, seven runs and three wickets condemned Barbados to defeat and gave Trinidad and Tobago its second Regional one day title.
The heroes of the 1982 Geddes Grant/Harrison Line final were Eldine `Soca’ Baptiste and Derrick Parry. Baptiste’s hat trick of wickets included Desmond Haynes, Alvin Greenidge and Carlisle Best, but the man that created the pressure was the former West Indies off spinner Parry. Parry’s spell pf 10 overs, six maidens, five runs and four wickets gave Barbados no chance at the ARG in St. John’s.
The Nevisian off spinner’s spell eclipsed the 1981 performance of Joseph against Barbados and Baptiste’s hat trick was the first in a Regional one day final.
Guyanese swingman Garfield Charles was the hero of the 1983 Geddes Grant/Harrison Line final. Playing against Jamaica at the GCC ground, Bourda Charles took 5 for 18 from 8 overs. The 19 year old Charles’ performance ensured Guyana captured the double in 1983 as the Clive Lloyd led unit had earlier won the Shell Shield tournament.
Antiguan/Leeward Islands fast medium bowler Hamesh Anthony’s 7 for 15 vs Barbados in 1995 at the ARG in the Shell Sandals Finals is still the best bowling performance in a Regional one day final while in the
1996 Shell Sandals final at GCC ground, Bourda, between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, Rajendra Dhanraj took the second hat trick in a Regional one day final dismissing Ramnaresh Sarwan, Kenneth Wong and Roger Harper. Dhanraj’s heroics led Trinidad and Tobago to a thrilling victory over the Carl Hooper led Guyana side.
Keith Arthurton was definitely the hero of the 1997 Red Stripe Bowl final at the Kaiser Sport Club ground in Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Arthurton’s masterful even 100 led the Leeward Islands to victory over the Carl Hooper led Guyana team.
Sylvester `Bouncing’ Joseph was the hero of the 1999 Red Stripe Bowl final but Jamaica took home the bacon. Joseph scored an unbeaten even century at Kaiser Sports Club at Discovery Bay but Jamaica defeated the Leeward Islands by the Duckworth/Lewis method and lifted the Red Stripe Bowl.
The hero of the 2005 Regional one day final was undoubtedly Sewnarine Chattergoon. The stylish left hander silenced Barbados with a courageous 119 at GCC, Bourda while heroes of the 2015 Nagicor Regional one day final were Jason Mohamed and Sunil Narine. Mohamed rescued his team with a responsible unbeaten 117 while Narine mesmerized the Guyana batsmen with a magical spell of 6 for 9. Both Narine and Captain Mohamed shared the Man-of-the-Match award.
Shai Hope was the hero of the 2017 Regional One Day Final, destroying the Jamaican attack with a classy century. He then returned with the gloves and effected seven dismissals breaking the record for the most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in a Regional one day match.
Hope eclipsed the previous record held jointly by Guyanese Sheik Mohamed and Jamaican Keith Hibbert who each had six dismissals in a match.
