TEMPERAMENTAL middle-order batsman Jonathan Foo struck an unbeaten half-century at the Albion Community Centre ground on Saturday night, when the home team opposed and defeated defending champions Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets by 93 runs to claim their maiden title.The two were meeting in the final of the 11th annual Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club-organised Guyana Beverage Inc., Busta-sponsored ‘Champion of Champions’ 40 overs tournament, doing so for the fourth time in the 11-year history of the tournament.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the home team posted 239 for 4 from their 40 overs, thanks to Foo’s unbeaten 88 (87 balls, 6×4, 3×6), an attacking 67 (62 balls, 3×5, 4×4) from David Latchaya, coupled with 35 and 27 respectively from openers Kandasammy Surujnarine and Balchand Baldeo.
Assad Fudadin (2 for 45) and Shawn Pereira 1 for 42 were RHTGG’s most successful bowlers, who in their reply saw the demise of Vidal Crandon (0) in the first over and Fudadin (6) in the fourth, which left them on 19 for 2, from which they never recovered and were dismissed for 146 in 37.4 overs.
Former national wicketkeeper batsman Delbert Hicks 45 (71 balls, 3×4), Pereira 40 (56 balls, 4×4, 1×6) and Ashkay Homraj who chipped in with 21 during his 58-run third-wicket partnership with Hicks, were the only batsmen to touch double figures for the nine-time champions who lost wickets regularly to Albion’s all-spin attack that was in operation.
Guyana Jaguars and West Indies left-arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul (4-17) and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai with 3 for 24 were the bowlers who engineered the batting collapse, to hand 11-time finalists RHTGG their second loss in the history of the tournament.
When Albion batted, only Anthony Bramble failed to cash in on the free scoring that took place, as he fell lbw first ball to Pereira, following the demise of Surujnarine and Baldeo, which left Albion on 77 for 3, before Foo and Latchaya joined forces.
They both struck Pereira back over his head for six, while Latchaya also pulled Collis Butts over mid-wicket for another six, as he added 152 for the fourth wicket with Foo, who also got a pair of sixes off Fudadin.
Albion lost Latchaya, who was run-out in the final over when he looked to take on the arm of Fudadin who was stationed at long off. He failed to beat the throw while coming back for a second run, while Foo inexplicably confronted Pereira, after completing two runs, on a personal matter, in the same final over.
It was shocking to see the national middle order batsman turn in his crease after completing the runs with Permaul, remove his helmet on his way to approaching Pereira who was stationed at mid-off and had a verbal exchange.
In RHTGG’s reply, Crandon was left dazed under the lights after seeing a diving Motie-Kanhai at backward point come up with his offer off the second ball in his team’s innings, bowled by Baldeo, while Fudadin was bowled by Josiah Dhanai for 6, going for an expansive drive through the off-side at 19 for 2.
Homraj and Hicks repaired the damage for their team by adding 58 for the third wicket, rotating the strike with some sensible running between the wickets along with the odd boundary, before Homraj holed out to Baldeo at long off, when he looked to hit Motie-Kanhai over the top at 77 for 3.
From that score, RHTGG slipped further into the abyss of defeat, losing Renwick Batson (0), Troy Mathieson (9), Hicks, Brandon Prashad (2), Keon Sinclair (2) and Collis Butts (3), to be 119 for 9, as the home team spin bowlers, led by Permaul and Motie-Kanhai, created chaos.
Pereira fought back for his team, hitting Motie-Kanhai for four and six, followed by a four off Dhanai, as the home team enjoyed themselves in the field, to the extent that Bramble was called upon to bowl a couple of overs to the last-wicket pair, who failed in their attempt to punish Albion for such a decision.
At the presentation ceremony that followed, Albion picked up $100 000 and the Busta Trophy with RHTGG receiving half of the cash amount and a trophy. Fudadin on behalf of RHTYSC and Permaul for Albion presented this reporter with $50 000 and $25 000 respectively towards his medical expenses.(GUYANACHRONICLE)
