Stabroek Market triumph in tense finish with GPHC

Stabroek Market’s skipper Ryan Boodhoo, left, receives the winner’s trophy from sponsor representative, Denise Fernandes

In a tense game of wits and nerves Stabroek Market eked out a 1 run victory over Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) when the two teams clashed in a 25-overs softball encounter at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground (GCC), Bourda last week.
GHPC won the toss and notched up 151 runs after electing to take first strike, losing their final wicket in the penultimate over. In reply, Stabroek Market, despite undergoing earlier difficulties eventually reached the total (152-9) in 16.2 overs.
Rambarran grabbed six wickets, including a hat-trick for GPHC to register impressive bowling figures of 6-29 from his allotted five overs.
Demerara inter-county softball batsman Amrit Jairam batted responsibly despite the constant fall of wickets at the other end. He eventually scored 30 (3×6, 2×4) with support from skipper Ryan Boodhoo (21). Timor Mohamed contributed an unbeaten 22.
Earlier, GPHC started disastrously, losing first-division player Marcus Watkins cheaply. Jason Andrews then batted purposely to notch up a valuable total of 26 while Lionel Perriera mixed solid defence with occasional aggression to top score with 44.
He hit four massive sixes and two fours and was eventually adjudged Man-of-the-Match.  Boodhoo returned to bag four wickets for 29 runs from his five overs while Basdeo Persaud picked up two victims.
The winners received a trophy with and so did Boodhoo for his sterling performance. The trophies were donated by Kissoon Variety Store.
At the presentation ceremony, Boodhoo noted that the game was very competitive.
He said that he was anticipating the resumption of the keen rivalry in future encounters.  GPHC will next play the Guyana Revenue Authority today at the National Culture Centre Tarmac in a feature 20-over tape ball match. The action is set to commence at 09:00hrs.