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Kaieteur News
GSCL Inc Republic Cup
Arjune stars as Regal thump Floodlight to take Masters title By Zaheer Mohamed Skipper Mahendra Arjune stroked a fine unbeaten half century as Regal defeated Floodlight XI to win the masters final of the inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) Republic Cup twenty 20 overs competition yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club. Arjune slammed six fours and three sixes in a top score of 78, guiding Regal who batted first to 163-5 in 20 overs in front of a fair size crowd. Troy Kippins then grabbed 4-16 to help restrict Floodlight to 141-7 in 20 overs, in reply. Regal found themselves
in a spot of bother at 34-4, but Arjune and Eric Thomas resurrected the innings with a fifth wicket stand of 78 with sensible batting before Thomas was dismissed for 33. Mahase Chunilall joined his skipper and added an unbroken 85 for the sixth wicket to see their team to a respectable total. Diaram Persaud took 2-8. Floodlight in reply lost a few early wickets, but Wayne Jones and Randy Khellawan steadied the chase somewhat with a fifth wicket stand of 58. Jones was then bowled by former West Indies test off-spinner and current
chairman of selectors Clyde Butts for 40 (4x4). Khellawan soon followed for an even half century with six fours and one six. Patrick Khan (13) and Ramesh Narine (12) were their next best scorers. David Harper and Sahadeo Hardeo were the other wicket takers for the winners. Regal received a trophy and $500,000, while each player was given a medal. Floodlight collected a trophy and $200,000. Arjune received the man of the match award. The open final was contested last night between Wolf’s Warriors and Trophy Stall.
NSC/GTTA Mashramani competition
Johnson, Ninvalle, Edghill triumph Elishaba Johnson, Khalil Ninvalle and Chelsea Edghill turned in commendable performances to take the boys U-15 and U-13 and girls U-18 titles respectively when the National Sports Commission (NSC)/ Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Mashramani competition continued yesterday at the National Gymnasium. Johnson beat Kyle Edghill 4-0, Ninvalle overcame Terrence Raush 3-0 and Chelsea Edghill beat Seavea Clarkston 3-0 in their respective finals.
Johnson got the better of Khalil Ninvalle 13-11,119,11-6 in their semi-final game and Kyle Edghill defeated Miguel Wong 113,11-4,11-2 in the next semi-final match up earlier. Ninvalle overcame Tariq Saunders 11-7, 11-11,13-11 and 11-18 en route to the final, while Raush beat Jeremy Singh 5-11,11-11,118,11-5 in their semi-final encounter. Johnson presented himself with another birthday gift when he overcame Stephon Corlette 4-3 in the boys U-18
singles final. He then teamed up with Corlette to win the junior doubles. Clarkston grabbed the top podium spot in the U-11 and U-13 Girls singles by beating Abigail Martin 3-0 in both finals. The U-18 mixed doubles went to Chelsea Edghill and Kyle Edghill; they trounced Shamar Britton and Navea Clarkston 3-0. Edghill and Christie Lopes beat Joel Cod and Pricilla Greaves 3-0 in the junior girls’ doubles. Greaves overcame Seavea Clarkston 3-0 in the girls U-15 final.
E-Networks Inc. partners with... From page 29 small pockets of players to develop and popularize the sport. “We now have about 800 players involved in the programme and I can tell you that baseball is here to stay,” he stated. He spoke of the League’s attempt to offer some amount of ease to those who would have missed the opportunity to play sports in their earlier years, adding that getting involved in baseball might help to bridge that gap. Singh reminded that nation building is not only done in the classrooms and boardrooms, but on the field as well. He said the collaboration is well suited to both organizations, E-Networks Inc as medium to promote what is being done by the GBL. Prinstein, who has scouted in places such as Australia, Hungary, Holland
among others said he was not fazed by coming to a country without any baseball history since he knew that cricket was a major part of its legacy and from earlier experiences, the latter tend to facilitate the growth of the other, since it mirrors each other in many technical aspects. He said there are also advantages of gaining scholarships for talented players, especially those who combine their on-field skill with academic excellence. Ambassador Hardt said it was a pleasure to be present at the occasion, adding that it was good to see the evolution of the sport in just two years. He noted that it was indeed a pleasure to see the Organisers bring the American experience to Guyana, informing that while the two have slightly different mechanics, they are quite similar. He, too, highlighted the
fact that there are scholarship opportunities for those who combine academic excellence with on-field brilliance. Dr. Anthony in his presentation admitted very little knowledge of the sport, but for a little research he had done shortly before his arrival. He, however, stated that it was quite fascinating to see the heightened interest in the sport which has only been introduced to Guyana for just around two years. Dr. Anthony said he was sure that Guyana could unearth the talent to go to the USA and excel at the highest level. He praised the Organisers for granting the youths the opportunity to play the sport, adding that by televising it, the interest could then increase. Also present yesterday were aspiring members of the GBL along with Coach Rabindranauth Seeram.
Monday February 17, 2014
SANTOKIE - IPL pick a dream come true Jamaica Star - Kingston, Jamaica - Fast bowler Krishmar Santokie has described his recent pick in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction as a dream come true. Overlooked by teams during last year’s staging of the event, Santokie was selected by defending champions Mumbai Indians on the second auction day of two, on Thursday, for US$50,000. He is set to join West Indies teammate, the big-hitting Kieron Pollard on the Mumbai roster. Pollard was retained by the champions after their win over Dwayne Bravo’s Chennai Super Kings during last season’s final. “It’s like a dream come true,” Santokie said. “Since the T20 format came in it has always been my desire to play in the World Twenty20, the IPL, the Australian Big Bash League, and so on. “So to see the IPL, which we also know is the biggest stage for the format outside of the international arena, I am extremely happy.” Widely regarded as one of the best Twenty20 bowlers in the region, given his ability to swing the ball and vary his pace at high speeds, Santokie entered the auction on the back of an outstanding season last year in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League. He guided Guyana Amazon Warriors to the final against Jamaica Tallawahs, before going on to cop the Most Valuable Player award after finishing with a tournament-high 16 wickets from nine games. The 29-year-old is the only first-timer on a list of eight West Indians that were drafted
Krishmar Santokie during the action. The others are fellow seam bowlers Ravi Rampaul ($150,000 - Royal Challengers Bangalore), Jason Holder (Sun Risers Hyderbad - US$125,000) and Kevon Cooper (Rajasthan Royals - US$50,000), all-rounders Darren Sammy (US$583,000 - Sun Risers Hyderbad) and André Russell (US$100,000 Kolkata Knight Riders), leg-spinner Samuel Badree (Chennai Super Kings - US$50,000), and batsmen, Dwayne Smith (Chennai Super Kings - US$750,000).
SMITH, EMRIT TOP PERFORMERS... From page 28 T&T quickie Ravi Rampaul had nine each. Sunil Narine, the world rated 25-year-old T&T offspinner and 24-year-old Guyanese left-arm Test spinner Veerasammy Permaul, took eight wickets each and were also among the top five bowlers. West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, who scored a futile 68 in the final, had the most dismissals (6) in the tournament and Lambert who scored 122 runs and bagged 5 wickets was adjudged the best All-Rounder. Guyana’s Ronsford Beaton was the quickest bowler on show but his pace was only sustained in his opening spell and strength training is an area he needs to work on. But he is only 21 and if properly handled, has a bright future. Chris Barnwell, who could be considered unlucky to be dropped from the West Indies t20 side and Leon Johnson, also had good performances for Guyana. Bajan off-spinner Ashley Nurse had six wickets and the only five-wicket haul but all of his wickets came in one match on a spin friendly surface, while Carlos Braithwaite, Jason Holder, Fidel Edwards, Rampaul, Mervin Matthew, Delorn
Johnson, Paul Wintz, Beaton, Emrit and Andre Russell all had good spells during the tournament. But Jerome Taylor, who has not played for the West Indies in four years, made an auspicious return to the Jamaican team with six wickets at an average of 11.83 and an economy rate of 3.06. The 29-year-old Taylor was arguably the best fast bowler on display. Most games were played during the week and all the games in Trinidad were Day/ Night affairs starting at 14:00hrs. However, this is the height of the Carnival season here and fans only turned up in their numbers for some of the home team’s big games and a few of the Guyana matches, since there is a large Guyanese population in Trinidad. However, tickets for the final were sold out and the atmosphere at the ‘Oval’ was absolutely fantastic, as the Trinis, arguably the most patriotic people in the Caribbean when it comes to National events, created a Sea of Red in the stands in support of their team. There was live radio coverage by the Caribbean Super Station, while ESPN carried the games (except the two in Tobago) live around the world giving the players
International exposure. Tickets were cheap and while the advertising campaign was good it competed with all the different Carnival fetes on the Island. Many also feel the tournament is too short and that each team should have the opportunity of playing each other once in the preliminary with the top two teams playing in a final, which will give especially the ‘new players’ more exposure. Imran ‘McSood’ Amjad, the St Marten based NAGIO CEO told Kaieteur News that more matches would be a good idea but the problem could be drafting out what he described as an ideal format. “Apart from the extra funding needed for a longer tournament, our biggest worry is how to come up with an ideal format that is not too long and drawn out to become boring, while still giving the players more matches,” Amjad explained. Champions: Barbados Runner-up: T&T Man of the Match: Dwayne Smith Most runs: Dwayne Smith Most wickets: Rayad Emrit Best All Rounder: Tamar Lambert Best fielder: Evin Lewis Best Keeper: Denesh Ramdin