Bacchus Bulls registered a 33-run win over Reliance Hustlers to win the South/Central Essequibo Cricket Committee T20 tournament on Sunday.
In a final that was originally set for last weekend but was shifted after a COVID-19 scare, the match got underway at the Imam Bacchus Ground with the visitors winning the toss and inserting Bulls.
Bulls posted 117 for nine from their allotted overs and then limited the visitors to 81 for eight.
The hosts were given a decent start as national youth all-rounder, Sheldon Charles, laid the platform with 17 at the top of the order. His innings featured two boundaries before he was run out and Bulls were 29 for three after seven overs.
However, Essequibo franchise player, Neiland Cadogan, hammered five fours and a six on his way to a top score of 35 not out late in the innings. He was supported by Nathan Persaud with 28, featuring two boundaries.
Hustlers’ bowling was led by medium pacer, Sidesh Shivambar who picked up 3-24 and off-spinner, Pavindra Persaud who bagged 2-15.
In reply, Hustlers were in a spot of bother at 13 for four at the end of the fifth over but had their moments with their under-19 captain, Abdool Nadir, stroking two fours and two sixes before being trapped leg before wicket to Kulraj Persaud for a top score of 34.
Narendra Mandholall was the only other batsman that reached double figures with 14. Persaud ended with 3-13 while Punraj Singh and Lalbachan Narine returned two wickets each for five and 18 runs respectively.
At the conclusion, Rising Stars’ Kemol Savory scored the most runs while Putrajaya Singh ended with the most wickets. Punraj Singh had the best bowling figures of 7-8 while the best batting performance came from A. Ghani who made 134 against Rebels XI. Mandholall was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, scoring 191 runs and taking nine wickets.
