Permaul’s Berbice are GFSCA Maters inter county champs

Apr 18, 2017 Sports

By Zaheer Mohamed
Permaul’s Berbice were crowned champions of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket

The victorious Permaul’s Berbice team with their hardware following their triumph at Ogle. (Photos by Zaheer Mohamed)

Association (GFSCA) Masters inter county 20-over tournament after recording a thrilling three-run victory over Wellman Demerara on Sunday.
Batting first at the Ogle Community Centre ground, Permaul’s Berbice were reduced to 32-4 before Troy Kippins and Rudolph Baker staged a recovery which helped them to 143-9. Kippins and Baker, who both play for Regal Masters of Georgetown, added 70 for the fifth-wicket with level-headed batting. Kippins counted two fours and one six before he was bowled by Ramo Malone for 34, while Baker was run out for 33 after hitting two fours and a similar number of sixes. Ravi Luchtman and Anil Beharry contributed 15 and 10 respectively as David Harper claimed 2-15 and Jagdesh Persaud had 2-16.
Opener Malone was bowled by Ishwarnanand Harilall for 11 as Wellman Demerara lost their first wicket with the score on 17. Mahendra Arjune and Jagdesh Persaud then added 32 for the second wicket to put their team on course before Arjune was bowled by Kippins for eight. Eric Thomas (06) and Lloyd Rooplall (07) fell in quick succession, while Jagdesh Persaud who slammed five towering sixes, but was caught off Ravi Lutchman for 39 as Permaul’s Berbice fought back with some tidy bowling and fielding.
Skipper Wayne Jones and David Harper came together and were cruising nicely with nudges and pushes before tragedy struck; Jones was needlessly run out for 19 attempting an ill-advised second run. With 22 needed from 18 balls, Kippins who was named man-of-the-match uprooted the stumps of Harper for 14 to leave the game in the balance. The Berbicians picked up wickets at regular intervals to restrict the home team’s scoring. And with seven required from the final over and one wicket intact, Imran Hussain held his nerves to concede three as Wellman Demerara finished on 140-9. Lutchman had 2-14 and Kippins 2-22.
Khemraj Sumair was the tournament’s best batsman with 170 runs, while Harper with six wickets received the best bowler accolade.
Permaul’s Berbice collected a trophy and $200,000 and Wellman Demerara a trophy and

The winning Mike’s Wellwoman side.

$100,000.
In the final preliminary round games played on Sunday morning, Wellman Demerara beat Trophy Stall Essequibo by nine wickets. Trophy Stall Essequibo were bowled out for 86 in 12 overs. Ramesh Narine made 39 and Rajendra Singh 21. David Harper had 3-15, Jagdesh Persaud 2-6, Raghunanand Narine 2-15 and Rickey Persaud 2-15.
Wellman Demerara responded with 87-1 in 8.2 overs. Ramo Malone struck 40 and Mahendra Arjune 33.
Permaul’s Berbice overcame Valvoline Demerara by eight wickets. Valvoline Demerara made 114-8 off their reduced 15 overs. Fazleem Mohamed struck 49 and Nandra Samall 21. Ishwarnand Harilall took 2-23. Permaul’s Berbice replied with 117-2 in 14.2 overs. Jaga Bhoj made 38 and Khemraj Sumair 32. Mohamed had 2-22.
In the female exhibition game following the final, Mike’s Wellwoman defeated Trophy Stall Angels by 31 runs. Mike’s Wellwoman scored 78-1 off their allotted eight overs, batting first. Latoya Smith stroked 46. Trophy Stall Angels were restricted to 47-4 in reply. Ruth George got 25 as Zola Telford claimed 2-13.
The female winner pocketed a trophy and $50,000 and the runner up a trophy and $25,000. Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, Indian High Commissioner Mr. V. Mahalingam and former Minister of Sports Dr. Frank Anthony graced event, which was sponsored by Mike’s Pharmacy, Sankar’s Auto Works under their Valvoline brand, Permaul’s Trading and Distributors and Trophy Stall of Bourda Market.
Ajay Jha a representative of Mike’s Pharmacy congratulated the winners and expressed gratitude to the sponsors, Ogle CC, teams and fans for the successful staging of the tournament.