By Neto Baptiste
Rackaman Construction Strictly Business and Brysons Shipping & Insurance Bullets were crowned male and female champions in the Antigua and Barbuda Softball Cricket Association (ABSCA) T20 Competition on Sunday following triumphs in their respective finals played in Jennings.
Strictly Business grabbed the grand prize with a 39 runs triumph over Marco Inc/Grill Box Buckley’s 3J’s when they met in the opening match.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Strictly Business posted 139 for six from their 20 overs with their best batting display coming from Kim George with 37. Winston Roberts was not out on 25 while Kerry Mentore also added 25 runs to the effort. Raymond Leadeatte chipped in with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs. Alfred Jarvis was the pick of the bowlers for the opponents with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs.
Buckley’s 3J’s were then bowled out for 100 in 18.5 overs with Steve Martin hitting 52 not out. Finals MVP Arthur Crogman did the damage with the ball for Strictly Business, claiming four wickets for six runs in four overs.
During the presentation and awards ceremony held following the finals, Strictly Business’ Kim George won the most runs award after he amassed 328 runs in six innings. George, who was also the competition’s overall MVP, also had the highest individual score of 112 not out.
Buckley’s 3J’s Alfred Jarvis was the competition’s top bowler with 11 wickets while Peter Richards of Old Road had the best bowling the figures of five wickets for 16 runs in 3.5 overs.
Meanwhile, Bullets defeated Sagicor Life Enforcers by 15 runs to take the female crown, also at Jennings.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, Bullets amassed 143 runs for three in their allotted 20 overs. Final MVP, Cheryl Williams led the way with 64 runs while Annette Frank made 45. Gaynell O’Garro claimed one wicket for 19 runs bowling for the opponents.
Enforcers, when their turn at the crease arrived, fell short at 128 for nine from their 20 overs. O’Garro top-scored with 42 in the losing effort while Gayle Lee added 21. There were three wickets each for Mauricia Willette who bagged three for 20 and Frank who snatched three for 21.
Cheryl Williams was the competition’s leading scorer and overall MVP with a total of 261 runs in six innings while also having the highest individual score of 64. Valencia Thomas of Flyers was the leading bowler with a total of 12 wickets while Gale Jobe of Foster Jonas, Harley’s Maintenance Potters Uprising had the best bowling figures of four wickets for 10 runs in four overs.
Mervin Higgins of Dredgers was adjudged the association’s Male Player of the Year after having amassed the most runs of 585 while Charles James of Strictly Business was the bowler of the tournament with 25 wickets.
The Female Player of the Year was Cheryl Williams of Bullets who amassed 500 runs while Valencia Thomas of Flyers was the top bowler with 19 wickets.
