Softball Cricket enjoyed a commendable year

Jan 05, 2016 Sports

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By Zaheer Mohamed
Players in the softball arena enjoyed a commendable 2015 – a number of tournaments were successfully held including the Guyana Softball Cup 5 which saw Regal dominating both the Open and Masters categories. Wolf’s

Warriors and Floodlight Masters were also competitive.
Guyana Softball Cup 5
This tournament once again attracted a number of overseas participants in both the Open and Masters divisions. Georgetown side Regal completed the double by winning both categories at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown.
Controversy put an end to the open final after Regal were 65-2 in just 9.3 overs in reply to the visitors 119. New York All Stars refused to continue the game after one of the umpires turned down an appeal for a stumping off Fazal Rafiek, and although the batsman decided to walk the New York side continued their protest, the organisers then awarded the game to Regal.
Regal’s Richard Latif, who enjoyed a productive season, was given the man-of-the-series award.
Meanwhile, in the Masters Division, Regal defeated their local counterparts Floodlight by six wickets. Regal successfully chased 160 with Eon Abel hitting 80 not out and Rudolph Baker 42. David Harper was Regal’s most successful bowler with four scalps, while Yunnis Yusuf made 31 for Floodlight. Essequibian Ramesh Narine of Floodlights took the MVP in this segment.
Winston Murray Memorial 10/10
Wolf’s Warriors won this competition which was organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc by trouncing Speed Boat by eight wickets at Everest Cricket Club.

Speed Boat were limited to 72-9. Wazir Hussain scored 28 as man of the match Steve Mohamed snared 3-8, Kelvin Olford 2-9, Azad Zaman 2-12 and Khemraj Samsundar 2-18. Wolf’s Warriors responded with 75-2 in 6.1 overs. Safraz Karim led with 32 not out, while Azad Azeez made 23 and Amrit Rai 14.
DJ Stress softball
This competition was organised by promoter Paul Bonar (DJ Stress) and the teams gave the fans much to cheer about; Regal defeated Wolf’s Warriors by 18 runs in the Open final which was played under lights at Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara.
Regal posted a challenging 185-9 off their allocation of 20 overs. Fazal Rafiek got 47 and Richard Latif 36. Wazim Hussain, Narine Bailey and Travis Drakes had two wickets each.
Wolf’s Warriors of West Coast Demerara threatened but were limited to 167-7 in 20 overs in reply. Mohamed Karim got 29, while Safraz Karim and Hussain made 26 each; Rohit Dutchin picked up two wickets for Regal.
Parika Defenders won the Masters trophy after registering a four-wicket win over Savage. Batting first, Parika Defenders scored 183-7 in 20 overs. Asif Ahmad stroked 67; Nadir Baksh took 3-41. Savage were restricted for 179-6 in 15 overs in reply.
Parsun Outboard Inter-County softball
Inter-County softball cricket made a return after an absence of 14 years. This competition provided fans with an opportunity of witnessing some of the top players from each county in action. Although bad light halted play in the final at Everest between Demerara A and B teams, the competition was deemed a success.
In the final, Demerara A mustered 195-8 off their allotted 20 overs. Navin Singh got 59 Chien Gittens 56. Vishnu Tammechandra and Azaad Azeez had two wickets each.
Demerara B ended on 183-8 in 18.1 overs. Azaad Azeez claimed the Man-of-the-match award.
Greg Singh with 252 runs including two centuries and eight wickets was given the tournament’s most valuable player and best batsman awards, Sewchand Budhu, who picked up 10 wickets, took the best bowler prize.
The competition which was organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc was sponsored by Crown Mining Supplies the distributor of Parsun Outboard, Ansa Mc Al under their Stag Beer brand and Digicel.
Independence Cup
Regal defeated Shuttle Max by 104 runs to win the open final at Everest Cricket Club. Regal posted 184-9 before bowling out Shuttle Max for 80. Navin Singh led Regal batting with 34, while Kawson Joseph got 26. Delroy Pereira who was given the man-of-the-match snared four wickets for Regal.
Floodlight overcame Industry Super Kings by 40 runs to claim the Over-40 title. Ramesh Narine made a fluent half century as Floodlight scored 159-8 in 20 overs. Robert Mohan and Pooran Singh picked up three wickets each for Industry Super Kings who were sent packing for 119 in 19.2 overs. Robin Singh cracked 40; Nandram Samlall and man-of-the-match Narine claimed two wickets each.
Emancipation Cup
Mahendra Hardyal and Khalid Haslim were instrumental in Regal securing a nine-wicket victory over Success Masters in the final at Everest Cricket Club – the duo shared 10 wickets between them as Success were skittled for 78. Hardyal then hit an unbeaten 38 to guide Regal home. Mahendra Arjune was also among the runs with 26. Richard Latif, Chien Gittens, Fazal Rafiek and Navin Singh of Regal, Amrit Rai, Azaad Azeez, Vishun Tammechandra, Mark Harold and Safraz Karim of Wolf’s Warriors, Greg Singh of Speed Boat were among the top performers for the year.
Softball cricket created much excitement among players and fans alike and the organisers, The GSCL Inc and GFSCA must be commended.

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