A blistering century from Brian Mangar and a hat-trick from Bobby Prahadlall highlighted the opening day of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc., President’s T20 tournament yesterday.
In the All-Stars category at the Queen’s College ground, the duo ensured Ariel XI a massive 252-run win over Hillfoot Warriors in the opening round.
Hillfoot won the toss and inserted Ariel who rocketed to 284 for seven off their allotted 20 overs before skittling the Soesdyke side for 32 in a mere 5.3 overs.
Mangar played a skipper’s knock, blasting 11 sixes and seven fours on his way to 103 before being bowled attempting a sweep shot in the 17th over.
However, when Mangar departed, out-of-favour national all-rounder, Eon Hooper made a quick-fire 40 not out, laced with three sixes and three fours.
Lending support were Jonathan Fernandes (37) and Shane Grovesnor (36) while Vickey Raghubeer bagged 3-50.
In reply, Keyon Sinclair removed the top three batsmen in the first over before Prahadlall snared a hat-trick to reduce Hillfoot to 6-6 by the end of the second over.
Prahadlall then returned to put the final nail in the coffin and end with 5-16 while Sinclair snared 4-15. No batsman reached double figures.
Meanwhile, on pitch one, Speedboat motored off with a one-wicket win over Regal All-Stars. Asked to bat, Regal were restricted to 121 all out in 18.5 overs while Speedboat scampered to 125 for nine with one ball to spare.
Ricardo Adams top scored for Regal with 28 and he was supported by Sachin Singh (21) while Mark Harold picked up 3-18 and Greg Singh (2-18), Ian Ivan (2-22) and Safraz Esau (2-31) complemented the bowling.
In the chase, Narine Singh top scored with 36 before Esau returned to steer his side home with 30 not out. Sewchand Budhu was the principal bowler for Regal taking 4-19.
In the third match at the venue, Venom All-Stars secured a 33-run win over Cosscutters. Cosscutters won the toss and elected to bowl but were only able to keep Xenon to 184 in 19.5 overs with Alex Rodrigues smashing five sixes and two fours on his way to 58. Ajay Persaud, Sheldon Adams and Mark Bobb picked up two wickets each.
Cosscutters, in reply were only able to score 151 for nine when their overs ended.
Adams returned to make a brisk 42 while Imran Hassan made 28. Steve Persaud bagged 3-28 and Carl Walcott snatched 2-29. In Round two, Speedboat secured their second win by beating Hillfoot by five wickets while Regal bounced back to beat Ariel by five wickets despite Mangar’s unbeaten 81.
Avinash Scrap Metal XI defeated Essequibo Wild Oats by 103 runs at the Guyana Defence Force ground, Camp Ayanganna but in round two, playing under protest, Venom defeated Avinash Scrap Metal by seven runs at the Queen’s College ground.
In the Masters Over-40 division at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Camp Road, Regal defeated Corriverton Spartans and Better Hope United by eight and four wickets respectively. Trophy Stall defeated HS Masters by 53 runs but in the second round, Trophy Stall lost to Mike’s Wellman by 60 runs and HS Masters beat Ariel by 25 runs. Ariel also beat Wellman by 13 runs. Fisherman’s XI stormed to two wins over Better Hope United by two wickets and Corriverton Spartans by 39 runs.
In the Legends Over-50 Parika Defenders defeated Floodlights by nine wickets. Anil Beharry stroked seven sixes and 10 fours in an unbeaten 104 but that was in vain as Parika Defenders raced to 186 for one with Unis Yusuf hammering 14 sixes and three fours on his way to 101 not out while adding 180 for the second wicket alongside Ramesh Narine (66 not out).
Parika Defenders then brushed aside Sunshine State Legends by 207 runs. Parika pressed on to a massive 311 for five with A. Rambharose (82), R. Narine (75), Yusuf (54) and R. Malone (44) among the runs. They returned to bowl out Sunshine State for 104 in 19.1 overs with Malone taking five wickets for four runs.
President’s XI also defeated Floodlight by six wickets while Wellman beat Enterprise by eight wickets, Regal winning Wellman and Rockaway by seven runs and six wickets respectively.
The action resumes today with the third round in the morning and semi-finals in the afternoon.
