The Georgetown Softball Cricket League Incorporated President’s softball T20 tournament All-Star final at the Everest Cricket Club ground, was abandoned yesterday following a breach of the COVID-19 regulations.
During the All-Star final, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, was visibly disgusted with the large turnout there to witness the action and expressed his disappointment in an address to the crowd.
“I cannot be in an environment like this and see you expose yourself in this manner and allow you to do it. I want to say to the organisers that you have a responsibility and if you cannot take the responsibly seriously then we have serious problems. We cannot build a country without responsibility. We have to build our country based on respect, love and responsibility for each other,” said Ali.
He then asked that the spectators think about their families and their communities while looking to correct the situation and wear a mask as well as follow the COVID-19 guidelines.
With Regal All-Stars chasing 117 for victory, the chase was curtailed as the organisers made a decision to abandon the match.
President of the GSCL, Ian John, apologized to the President, pointing out that it was out of respect for President Ali that the decision was made to abandon the match.
“We asked that he bat a ball or bowl a ball to signify the playing of this tournament. However, on his arrival he was very disappointed. He spoke to the Speaker of the House [Manzoor Nadir] who is also the President of this club and he told him he was disappointed at the lack of control at the club and the large gathering in the main pavilion and stands and said he would not be staying,” John explained.
The prize money will be split between the two teams with each pocketing $300,000.
Speedboat won the toss and opted to bat first and eventually went on to post 116 all out in 19.4 overs.
Speedboat were 51 for four at the halfway stage.
Ameer Mohammed made 23 and Vickash Dhaniram and Safraz Karim supported with 20 and 18 respectively.
Delroy Perreira who ended with 4-27 and Ravindra Ramnauth 2-26.
The match was abandoned with Regal 18-2 after five overs.
During the presentation, Anil Beharry was recognized for his consecutive centuries while Mahendra Hardyal was awarded for his dedication and contribution to the game.
Masters O-40 Regal beat Mike’s Wellman by 9 wickets
Regal stormed to a nine-wicket win over Mike’s Wellman to lift the Master’s title.
Wellman posted 146 for six in their 20-over quota after being asked to bat while Regal eased to 148 for one in 14.2 overs.
Player of the match, Richard Latif and Ejaaz Mohammed laid waste to the Wellman bowling attack and hammered an unbeaten 148-run stand for the second wicket.
Latif was the more aggressive, hitting 84 from just 38 balls which featured seven sixes, three of which landed on Carifesta Avenue towards the mid-wicket boundary and a straight drive to bring up his half century. The right handed 40-year-old also stuck seven fours during his pulsating innings.
Mohammed played the supporting role for the first part of the partnership but when his partner brought up his landmark, Mohammed soon after brought up his half century with a flat six, flicked into the square leg boundary.
The former Guyana under-19 player made 54 not out from 44 balls, with five sixes and one four.
Earlier, Wellman were off to a solid start as skipper, Greg De Franca played a masterful innings of 61 from 44 balls which featured six sixes and two fours before he was bowled by Mohammed Ayube (2-29).
Wellman were coasting at 75 without loss at the halfway stage and DeFranca added 82 for the first wicket with former West Indies `A’ team batsman Azeemul Haniff as the pair took a liking to Ayube with 30 runs coming from his first two overs.
The 43-year-old Haniff, was dropped on 17 at long on but could only manage 24 from 27 balls before getting a leading edge to the point fielder. With the openers back in the dugout, Wellman then lost four wickets for 21 runs compliments of two run outs.
Ayube was deemed the player of the series after taking 12 wickets and scoring 40 runs and won a 32-inch Premium LED television.
Legends Over-50: Regal beat Parika Defenders by 8 wickets
In the Over-50 category, Regal Legends carted off the $500,000 prize following their eight-wicket win over Parika Defenders.
Regal won the toss and inserted Parika Defenders who were restricted to 66 for eight from 20 overs.
The eventual winners raced to 69 for two winning with 41 balls to spare.
Parshram Persaud (2-19) removed both openers while player of the match, David Harper (2-12) dismissed Ramesh Narine and Glen Fredericks in the fourth over to reduce Parika Defenders to 7-4.
Ramo Malone resisted with a 34-ball 27, laced with two fours and one six but when he was dismissed by Eric Thomas (1-12), only Ramesh Rambarose with 11, reached double figures before he was removed by Laurie Singh (1-14). Farheem Mohamed troubled the lower order to return 2-18.
Regal’s chase was relatively comfortable with Thomas returning to hammer three sixes in an unbeaten 20 while Mahesh Chunilall (18) and Harper (17) supported.
Ramesh Narine of Parika Defenders was awarded a trip for two after winning the player of the series award for his 309 runs and four wickets.
