Novice excel in Greiggs softball cricket final

CGM Novice made host Sea Operations Nar Fren Dem choke again Sunday at the Greiggs Playing Field, as they walked away with the 2012 Sea Operations SVG/Premier Distributors T-20 Greiggs Softball Cricket title.{{more}}

Novice earned a five-wicket win in the title match, in front of a vocal crowd with support even.

The home chose to bat first, but did not justify their decision, as they labored to 89 for 5 from their allotted 20 overs. Mark Durrant scored 24. Chris King took 2 for 8, bowling for Novice.

Novice started well, losing their first wicket at 33. A stutter in the middle overs, when wickets were lost at crucial intervals, brought some excitement to the proceedings.

Man of the final Rohan Dowers hit 25 at the top of the order and Dean Farrell added a quick fire 17, to set up Novice win.

But Novice crossed the line in the first ball of the 20th over, to reach 90 for 6, and lift the title for the first time in their second year in the competition; it was Nar Fren Dem’s fifth defeat in the finals, with a lone title to show from six berths.

Glenford Woodley took 2 for 5 and Krishna Da Silva 2 for 25, bowling for Nar Fren Dem.

Novice earned $1,500, while Nar Fren Dem pocketed $1,000.

Novice had beaten South Rivers by 85 runs in the semi-finals, with Nar Fren Dem overcoming Cane End by 60 runs.

South Rivers secured the third place and $500 as Cane End did not show up. Nar Fren, though, took the lion’s share of the individual awards.

Among them was the Man of the Series award, pouched by Keno Matthews for his 143 runs and 19 wickets. Matthews added the most wickets trophy to his achievements.

Nar Fren Dem’s Dillon Woodley got the best wicketkeeper award, having bucketed 12 catches and had 4 stumpings to boot. Kenford Collis, also of Nar Fren Dem, recorded the most catches as an outfielder: 12.

South Rivers’ Marvin Small registered the most runs — 298 and his teammate Romano Warren took the award for taking the best catch.

RP Ballers’ Osnet Cato received a special cash award for being the first batsman to reach 72 runs in this year’s competition. The Under-15 Division was won by Ray Team, with Owia Shottaz, the runner-up.

Organisers have promised that the 2013 edition will commence immediately following the national Carnival celebrations. (RT)