Jai Hind Jaguars and WD Masters marched into the semi-finals of the Guyana Cricket Board/Tropical Springs Over-40 T20 tournament yesterday.
In the first quarter final match at the Jai Hind ground, the hosts coasted to a six-wicket win over Bel Air Rubis Ultra Tec. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat but were contained to 128 for eight from their allotted overs while the hosts reached 128 for four with 17 balls to spare.
Imran Hussain got Jaguars off to a good start with a 43-ball 45, laced with four fours and two sixes before being bowled by Chandranie Jeenarine in the 13th over. Hussain added 72 for the second wicket with skipper, Kamraj Sumair who made 39 not out, decorated by four fours and one six.
The chase seemed a bit troublesome for Jaguars with Zahir Moakan and Rajendra Mangali being dismissed cheaply. However, Anil Beharry continued his red-hot form by hitting four fours and two sixes in his 10-ball cameo of 29 not out.
Earlier, Bel Air were indebted to a late brilliance from Arthur Duke, who cleared the small venue with ease on his way to 46. He smashed four sixes and one four before holing out to long on.
Duke shared a 59-run partnership with Oslyn Batson but after he departed, Batson shifted gear to end unbeaten on 24, highlighted by two sixes and one four. Richard Ramdeen made 22 while Vishnu Ramjeet made 12 but no other batsman reached double figures.
Narine Deonarine gave Jaguars a good start as he removed both openers in the second over to end with two for seven. He was complemented by Deoprakash Ramdat who took two for 17.
Meanwhile, in Georgetown, WD Masters defeated Imam Bacchus by 90 runs at the Everest Cricket Club ground.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, WD Masters piled on 174 for seven from their allotted overs before limiting the Essequibo side to 84 all out in 19.4 overs.
A change in the batting order saw regular opener, Elroy Fernandes, coming in at seven and capitalizing in the death overs. The short, but bulky right-hander, clubbed half a dozen sixes and three fours on his way to 61 not out.
Fernandes added 80 for the eighth wicket with Deoram Persaud who made 18 not out.
Ramesh Thakur (27) and Patrick Khan (24) had starts while WD Masters were gifted 22 extras.
Fazeer Khan was the pick of the bowlers with two for 13 while Punraj Singh, Andy Ramnarine, Lakeram Persaud, Devesh Joseph and Gansham Deonarine had one wicket a piece.
Imam Bacchus’ chase was stifled as Budram Sugrim (3-12) and left-arm spinner, Steve Haripal (2-18) made scoring difficult.
Ramnarine top scored with 20 and Ramesh Chattergoon made 10 but no other batsman reached double figures.
