Capacity crowd watch Universal DVD Berbice Titans pocket $2 Million

Aug 16, 2011 Sports

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As Gizmos & Gadgets fall in Jam Zone Masters’ Cup Final

Watched by a colourful capacity crowd of over 16, 000 under a clear night sky at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday night, Universal DVD Berbice Titans proved they are the best t20 team in Guyana with a 25-run win against Gizmos & Gadgets Georgetown Pitbulls in the Final of the inaugural Jam Zone Masters’ Cup T20 cricket competition.
When Jamaican Krismar Santokie lofted Esuan Crandon to Rajiv Ivan at deep mid-wicket in the wee hours of yesterday morning, one of the largest crowds to witness a cricket match at Providence went wild as Berbice, the only team in the competition opting not to use overseas Internationals, again proved that there is strength in unity to take the $2Million first prize.

Man-of-the-Final Assad Fudadin stroked a calculated 55 from 48 balls with three fours and six to lead the Berbicians, the defending National t20 champions, to 151-6 on a slow and low track after the Pitbulls had won the toss.
Santokie took 3-35 with his left-arm medium pace for the City side who were bowled out for 126 in 19.2 overs despite an entertaining 58-run opening partnership from 45 balls between Trevon Griffith and Shemroy Barrington.
Barrington was sent packing for a run-a-ball 22 by Esuan Crandon in the eighth over just when the massive Berbice contingent in the crowd was beginning to get worried.
Although Griffith, a former West Indies under-19 left-hander played some audacious shots on the lightening fast Providence sward in his 37-ball 52, decorated with six fours and two sixes and Wicketkeeper Derwin Christian clobbered two sixes in a cameo 21 to keep the Pitbulls hopes alive, there was little other meaningful support as the home team had to settle for the $1Million runner-up prize.
Esuan Crandon (3-13 from 1.2 overs) and his brother and Skipper Royston (2-23) conspired to take 5 wickets between them, while West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who conceded just 15 runs from his four overs, removed the dangerous Christian just when he was looking threatening.
Earlier, Trinidadian Test all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who performed on stage with Timeka Marshall during Jam Zone’s International Night on Saturday, thumped a shot-filled 106 after Chris Gayle hit a cameo 38 to lead the Hits and Jams All Stars to victory against New Line Cavaliers in the third place play-off to take home the $400,000 third prize.
Bravo, who says he is focused on improving his cricket and representing the West Indies and not on being a performing artist although he has recorded a song with Benne Man and Timeka Marshall, received the $200,000 Man-of-the Series award.
The Stadium rocked all night and the energetic dancing girls, the Tassa drummers and thousands of fans with horns added to the fantastic atmosphere which rivaled any International match in the West Indies in recent times.
The YK3 group performed the National Anthem after the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr Frank Anthony met the two teams before the final, while GT&T, Jam Zone’s premier Sponsor, was represented by its CEO Yog Mahadeo.
Mahadeo told the massive turn out at the presentation Ceremony that GT&T has a three year contract with Jam Zone and was delighted to be a part of Guyana’s biggest Summer Event.
“We are pleased to be the major sponsor of Jam Zone and the crowd support tonight (Sunday) was tremendous as Cricket has been added to Jam Zone for the first…We will again be on board next year since like GT&T, Jam Zone is getting better all the time,” Mahadeo said.
Rawle Ferguson of Hits and Jams Entertainment thanked the sponsors, the Government and the fans for their overwhelming support and reminded that the next big show at the Stadium is the Regional Night with dancehall performers Mavado and Vybz Kartel on Friday before Shipla Shetty headlines the Hollywood and Chutney Night the next evening. He promised that next year’s cricket would be even bigger.
Coordinator of the first ever Jam Zone cricket event, former Guyana Cricketer Sean Devers, told the gathering that cricket plays a major role in national unity and transcends race, politics and religion.
Devers said he would have been very surprised if the Stadium had not been filled to capacity for the final after all the hard work, the tremendous support of everyone involved and the caliber of players on show.
Universal DVD Berbice Titans Manager Mark Lyght said that team cricket, focusing on the job at hand and the desire to win contributed to his team’s success in a major way.
The official presentation for the Jam Zone Masters is scheduled for sometime this week and plans are already on stream for the 2012 competition.

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