International Masters Cricket final shortened by rain

The inclement weather last Saturday, November, played a big part in the 2024 National Lotteries Authority SVG Tourism Authority Independence International Masters T/20 Cricket Festival.

In spite of the interventions by rain, however, Windies Masters emerged as Fete Division Champions while All Pro-Masters and Canada Masters had to share the Festival Division.

When the finals were called at the Sion Hill Playing Field, a late start because of a wet outfield, enoughsunshine came through for Windies Masters to prevail over AMAAS Sporting Services Barbados Masters by 4 runs.

Reduced to 10 overs per inning, Windies Masters chalked up to 71 for 8. Neil Baptiste top scored with 19.

Wesley Straker- 2 wickets for 7; Winston Gittens 2 for 13; and Anthony Morris 2 for 15, were the most successful bowlers for the Barbadians.

Responding, AMAAS Sporting Services Barbados Masters by the half way mark, were crawling at 23 for 3.

This necessitated some heavy lifting in the second half of their innings. However, they fell short making 67 for 4. Pedro Agard 19; and Winston Warren 18 not out, were the main batters.

Winsbert Springer gulped 3 for 13, bowling for Windies Masters.

Then it was the turn of the Festival Final, featuring All Pro Masters and Canada Masters. All Pro Masters galloped to 164 for 6 in 20 overs.

Deems Baird smothered a 39 ball 70 not out, and Anderson Agard scored 34, sharing a 67 run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Raj Gopalan was the most successful bowler for Canada Masters taking 2 for 31. Canada Masters in their turn at the crease were well on their way at 25 without loss after 3.2 overs when the heavens opened forcing a complete abandonment. Bhav Singh was already going well on 17 not out.

Hardeo Basant topped the batting in the Fete Division scoring 142 runs at an average of 71.01 while the Canadian Legends 50 Plus Masters duo of Imran Rajah and Rudy Gibson claimed 10 wickets each to top wicket taking chart.

In the Festival Division, Hyron Shallow of SVG Police Masters, amassed 228 runs, to lead the batters. All Pro Masters’ Deepak Kumar copped the most wickets, 10, at an average of 10.50.

The Masters Cricket Festival ran from Monday, November 4 to November 9, 2024. Teams from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Florida, New York and Canada, along with local teams vied for honours.

The Festival Division catered for players 40 years and over, while the Fete Division saw players 50 years and over competing.