A new Open champion will be crowned when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. 5th Prime Minister’s Cup final takes place today at the National Stadium, Providence.
Today’s final will be between Regal and Ariel after Speed Boat’s semi-final exit yesterday.
Playing in the semi-final at Eve Leary, Speed Boat’s engine ran out of fuel at 167 all out in the 19th over chasing 195 for victory.
Speed Boat won the toss and inserted Regal who climbed to 194 for six from their allotted overs. Sachin Singh continued his exceptional form at the top of the order, hitting six sixes en route to 44 before he was caught off of Greg Singh.
Sewchand Budhu struck five sixes and a four during his 35-run knock while cameos also came from Chein Gittens (26), Richard Latiff (23) and Patrick Rooplall (20).
Singh and Dovindra Mohan both captured two wickets for 29 and 34 runs respectively.
The chase was foiled by Budhu who rocked the batting order to end with 4-26, getting support from Kelvin Orford (3-33).
Singh returned to give Speed Boat a push, whipping out the paddle to sweep four sixes during his top score of 31 before top edging a simple catch to Rawl Reid at gully off of Olford.
Kishore Smith (26) and Safraz Karim (24) also got starts but failed to carry their side over the line.
In the other semi-final over at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, a keenly contested low scoring affair ended with Ariel coming out with a three-wicket win over Name Brand.
Ariel won the toss and inserted Name Brand who were rolled over for 92 in 17 overs.
Balram Samaroo was left stranded on 24 not out while Sasenarine Sukhu and Joshua Sampson each made 21.
Quintin Sampson was the principal bowler with 3-10 while Dianand Singh bagged 3-14.
Joshua Sampson (3-27) and Ramnarine Jugisteer (2-13) tried valiantly to defend the low score but Shauz Grovesnor’s 25 not out and Jonathan Fernandes’ 24, ensured Ariel reached 93 for seven in 10.3 overs.
Earlier in the final preliminary round matches, Ariel’s Sampson and Regal’s Gittens both smashed centuries to see their sides to victory.
Ariel flattened Name Brand by 132 runs. Asked to bat, Ariel raced to 285 for nine in 20 overs.
Ariel were in a spot of bother at 13 for two but when the Essequibian all-rounder, Sampson walked to the crease, he raced to 126. The 21-year-old smashed three fours and an astonishing 16 sixes, one of which was hoisted over mid-wicket to bring up the first triple figure score of the tournament.
Sampson, before being caught at long on off of Mahendra Singh, added 151 for the third wicket with Grovesnor who made 60, with five sixes and five fours.
In reply, Name Brand could only manage 153 for nine with Diaram and Jugisteer making 34 and 33 respectively.
Jonathan Fernandes picked up 4-20 while Chandrashakar Arjune bagged 2-32.
At the other pitch at Eve Leary, an eight-man Airport team were thoroughly trounced by Regal who piled on 279 for five in their allotted overs before dismissing Airport for 70 in 12.1 overs.
Gittens finished unbeaten on 109 after hitting 13 fours and five sixes as the foundation was already set for his explosion with Regal reaching 138 by the 10th over and clubbed 67 in the last four overs.
Sachin Singh made 71, laced with nine sixes and four fours while adding 107 for the opening partnership with Rooplall who struck five boundaries, including one four on his way to 32. Riaz Esau picked up 2-58.
Latiff was critical with the ball, bagging 5-13. Ricardo Polloram (16), Anand Bharrat (14) and Vinesh Singh (10) were the only batsmen with double-figure scores.
In the Legends division, Rockaway Legends refused to play against Regal Legends and forfeited the match while Mike’s Wellman defeated Orlando Legends by six wickets.
In the Masters semi-final, Fishermen beat New York Cricket Doctors by eight wickets and Ariel Masters brushed aside Regal Masters by nine wickets.
Today, the Masters final will bowl off first at 10.00 hours between Ariel Masters and defending champions, Fishermen. This match will be followed by the Legends final at 13.30 hours between Regal Legends and Mike’s Wellman before the Open final at 17.00 hours.
